The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-26
BILL
Various Amendments
May be Added.
Beet Growers VIII Attempt to Have
a Duty Placed Upon Ha-
waiian Sugar.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Compara-
lively few changes will be made in the
Cullom Hawaiian bill which is now
under consideration in the Senate.
This measure, which will be the or
ganic act of the new Territory of Ha-
wall, was framed by the Hawaiian
Commission, consisting of Senators
Cullom, Morgan and Representative
Hit, which visited the Islands in the
summer of 1898. In one respect, how
ever, the Senate has already shown a
disposition to amend the bill. AS it
now stands the acts of the Legislature
except by the veto of the Governor and
review by the courts, are final. This
gives to the Territory of Hawaii
much larger measure of self-govern-
ment than the Territories of New Mex
leo, Arizona and Oklahoma and the
territories which have been admitted
to statehood in recent years have ever
enjoyed, for, in all of those territories.
the acts of the Legislature were sub
ject to ratification by Congress.
The feeling of many Senators is
against granting to the new territory
in the Pacific so much greater control
of it's affairs than New Mexico, for ex-
ample, which has been territory for
half a century, enjoys, and it was in
timated this afternoon by Senator
Platt of Connecticut that when the
proper time arrived he would move
for the insertion in the Cullom Bill of
a provision similar to that which OBJ
tains in the organic acts Of the exist
ing territories.
One other amendment has been sug-
gested by Senator Warren, but there is
reason to believe that it will be the
subject of some debate. The Cullom
Bill provides for a property qualifica-
ton for voters, but Senator Warren
proposes that the Legislature of Ha-
wall, after January /, 1903, may sub
nit to the lawfully qualified voters of
that territory such changes and modi-
fications in the qualifications for elect
ors as it may see fit, and upon the
adoption by a majority vote of such
notifications they shall become valid
and binding
There is also a disposition to shorten
the terms of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of Hawaii, which the bill fixes
at nine years. These Judges are to be
appointed by the Governor, who in
turn is appointed by the President, In
the territories now existing the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices of the
Territorial Supreme Court are all ap-
pointed by the President.
The judicial system in Hawaii will
consist of Supreme Court for the
Territory and a separate and distinct
United States District Court presided
over by Judge appointed by the Pres
ident. Some Senators believe the judi
cial system of Hawaii should conform
| more closely with the present territor-
ial system, although members of the
Hawaiian Commission are of the opin-
ion that it is best to leave conditions
In the Islands as nearly as possible
like those that prevailed before annex
alton
1t has become known in the last few
days that the beet sugar interests rem.
resented by the Oxnards of Nebraska
and California will try to secure the
imposition of a 25 per cent duty on Ha
walien sugar as a protective measure
for the benefit of the beet sugar grow
ers of the United States. They bav.
taken their cue in this matter probabl,
from the reports of the House and Sen
ate committees on the Puerto Rica1
bill, providing for a levying of 25 pc
cent duty both ways on imports AM
exports between Puerto Rico and tn,
United States. Hawaiian sugar ha
had free access to the markets of tn
United States for the last fifteen year
under the reciprocity treaty, and sucl
step as the beet sugar men propos
would be a radical departure.
Inc question also arises whether til
United States, having acquired the Ha
Wallan Islands under the treaty. an!
the Cullom Bill expressly exten1in,
the Constitution of the United state
to the Islands, it will be possible +
impose any customs duties upon trad
between the Islands and the Main
land. Nevertheless. it is known tba
\ senator Burrows of Michigan is pre
pared to offer such an amendmen
when the proper time arrives.
Inc Republican caucus Of the Sen
e ate this morning decided to add III
L Alaska code bill to the partv nroera
OF legislation contemplated at this ses
sion next in order to the three mnae
ures already decided upon-The Ha
wailan Bill, Foraker Bill for Puart
Rico and the Spooner Philippines Bill
senator Chandler attempted TO sacur
right of way for the QUAY case an
. Claimed that 1t was privileged matte
unoer the rules. That much was cor
ceoed, but the friends of the Alask
code Dill prevailed, and the Ouay cas-
may be indefinitely shelved.
There are two bills before the Ser
= ate providing for a general code fl
y Alaska, one introduced by Senate
Perkins of California and another b
Senator Carter. The bill that will !
passed will doubtless be comnosad ,
the best features of both. hut as hot
are very voluminous much time wi
probably be required for their consi,
Grafton.