The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-04-11
CAME BEFORE THE HOUSE ON
APRIL 3.
Vote to be Taken at 4 p. M, April g.
Opening Speech by Knox Chairman
of Committee Urges Passage.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-The date
for taking the vote upon the Hawaiian
bill has been postponed to Friday
April 6.
WASHINGTON, April 3.-The House
today entered upon the consideration of
the substitute for the Senate Hawaiian
territorial bill under a special order
which will bring the question 20 a vote
on Thursday afternoon at o clock.
The debate was in committee of the
whole and only three of the six speech
es were pertinent to the bill. Knox of
Massachusetts,, chairman of the Com
mittee on Territories delivered a care
fully prepared speech in advocacy of
its passage.
Robinson G: Indiana, t-i;ici.ei a Sec
tion of the b II which h.. said continued
in force labor contracts existing in
Hawaii, denouncing It as ogalizing a
system of wage slavery.
Mendell of Wyoming, spoke generally
in support of the bill. Lane of Iowa, one
of the Republicans who opposed the
Porto Rican tariff BILL made a vigorous
speech, reaffirming his position and
warning his Republican associates that
the country would not support an un-
fair policy toward the Porto Ricans.
Thomas of North Carolina, Williams
of Mississippi, and Boutelle of Illinois,
| discussed imperialism.
The debate is to last until Thursday,
on which day at o'clock, the vote Is TO
be taken. Knox of Massachusetts,
chairman of the Committee on Terrific
ries, who is in charge of the measure,
made the opening speech in support of
| it.
Knox said: "rhe Hawaiian Islands
are the Gibralter Of the Pacific in war,
| the key of the Pacific in peace. me
| paradise of the Pacific ever. Hawaii
| sks,.-r
! emn agreement of two independent
| nations. But while Hawaii is United
! States territory. it does not possess
| United States government, only
skeleton Of the republic of Hawaii re-
mains. The government provided by
| the annexation resolution was but tenn
porary, intended to last until Congress
should establish a government There
was entire absence of presentation
a government entirely 'un American,
| and in derogation of all the principles
of free government. It's only justifi-
| cation could be that it's endurance
would be brief.
1.-THE old Legislature has expired;
there has been no election of a new one
New courts of United States jurisdic-
tion have been established. This meth
of governing Hawaii has proved in
adequate, expensive and cumbersome.
A large number of contract laborcrs,
numbering ait least $4,000 have been
| brought into the islands since the adop-
tion of the resolution of annexation.
1t is time that this reprOach upon Am
erica should cease, and that it's terrific
ry should be free from the influx of
labor long since denied by the laws of
the United States.
THE duty is immediate and plain to
provide for this new territory of the
United States a law framed to meet
the needs of the Hawaiian people, not
of another people. No question of gem
eral policy to other insular possessions
should have weight. Justice to Hawaii
cannot be done except when her own
needs, her own capabilities and her own
rights are fully regarded.
mo fear of establishing a trouble
some precedent for the future should
deter in the discharge of this duty now
laid upon Congress. No apprehension
for future claim to statehood should
have any consideration. We cannot
now bind the future in this regard. No
constitutional question is involved in
the present consideration of a govern
ment for Hawaii. The spirit of the
Declaration of Independence, as we'll as
that of the constitution goes with the
present measure, for it is with the con-
sent of the governed"
Knox was questioned about various
sections and provisions of the bill, es-
.
, Hawaii could enter the United States
He replied that the Chinese and Jap
anese in the islands went there for
only a few years stay. Some of then
had left their native land permanently
and few of them would desire to con-
tinue their wandering to the United
States, even if they were allowed to
do so.
Robinson of Indiana devoted much OF
his time to a denunciation of the con-
tract labor system in the Hawaiian
islands, which he characterized as
8 practical slavery, and which, he said
the tenth section of the pending bill
continued in force. 1T MEANS" saiC
he, "that you would cruelty labor or
the cross of landlordism and money
5 in Hawaii"
; He charged the American Commits.
t sioners (Senators Cullom and Morgan
. and Representative Hit) with having
D been seduced and bunkoed by Presi.
dent Dole and Judge Frear, the Hawai-
ian Commissioners. But it must re.
main for Congress- he said to deter.
mine whether money was to be placed
above manhood and contract slave lab
. or above free labor. Robinson read &
letter from the Commissioner of I'm.
migration, showing that about 30,00l
Japanese had arrived in Hawaii under
contract since the islands We're annex
ed.
THE Republican party" said he, ere
fused to pass law in the Fifty-fiftI
Congress excluding contract labor II
the Hawaiian Islands; refused to en-
graft II in their resolutions in thi.
House, and defeated the amendment IL
the Senate.
ITO these islands for years peopl,
have gone like galley slave. scourgcC
to his dungeon, for not obeying thu
terms of civil contract into which they
were induced to enter by the cupidit!
!, Of navigation companies and to tn,
e gain of plantation owners"
I Lane of Iowa discussed the Port,
!, Rican question, taking the position
that while the Constitution die not ex
tend eX proprio vlgore to the islands
1t should be extended by law, and tina
d every consideration Of justice and fai
dealing demanded that the people o
the island should be placed on al
equality with those of this country II
the matter Of the tariff He declarei