The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-08
FUTILE sPoILs. sEEKlN G.

In discussing the points made by the
Advertiser yesterday about the small
good it would do the Hawaiians to
control the Legislature. the Indepen-
dent says in effect that the approval OF
Congress is not needed to secure the
validity of Hawaiian laws. This is a
point upon which we have found diff
ference of opinion among attorneys
some holding that the practice OF re-
ferring Territorial Legislation to Con-
gress which obtains in Arizona, New
Mexico and Oklahoma must rule here;
others that the Cullom-Knox law
leaves a wide latitude of action to the
local Legislature upon such subjects
as the Act of Admission specifically
puts in it's hands. Many grave ques-
lions however, such as those appertain-
ing to loans are said to require Con-
gressional sanction. The best authority
we were able to consult yesterday held
that in respect of local legislation Con-
gress trusted chiefly to the veto of the
Governor, knowing that if this should
lot prove sufficient to check ignorant or
predatory courses among the Island
law makers an amendment to the Ter
ritorial Act, compelling reference of
all bills to Washington, would be easy
20 effect.
The Independent is clearly in error
when 1t insists that the Legislature can
unseat or reject Governor Dole's APP
pointees. Here is our contemporaries
paragraph:
The Advertiser also says that the Ter
ritorial Legislature cannot unseat the
Dole family compact and Doles ap-
by reading the act the Advertiser finds
that the consent of the Territorial Sen
ate is necessary to affirm his appoint
nents. and that consent he VIII never ss
.iaIs, whose only merits are that they
belong to the Dole clique.
If the Senate shall decline without
good cause, to confirm Mr.. Dole's NOM
.nees. the old incumbents will hold
place until the Legislature adjourns,
vhereupon Governor Dole may lawfully
appoint the men who were rejected.
Section so, defining the Governors pow
ers says: HE may make such APP
session, which shall, unless such ap-
continents are confirmed, expire at the
end of the next session of the Senate"
It is easy to see, therefore, that despite
the possible hostility of an anti-haole
Senate, the Governor can have his own
way about appointments. If the Sen
ate does not confirm, the officials may
10
reappointed the next day.
This leaves a spells seeking Royalist
faction very small chance indeed to
enter upon one of those years of plen-
ty for natives" of which a speaker at
the drill shed meeting made an antici-
patory boast. OF course the natives
cannot control either the revenues or
| the appointments of the Federal offices
such as the Custom House, the Post
| Office and the u. S. Circuit Court; and
as they will not be able to dictate Mr..
| Dole's Observation-Disclosures includes
the head of the Island police-what is
there left for them in the way of the
ioaves and fishes? Were they to elect
an Independent Congressman this year
he would not be able to control pat
ronage-that would be dictated by the
Republican National Committeeman OF
be subject to the advisory wishes OF
Governor Dole. Thus the circle in
which the spoils-seekers can move is
very small. They might try their
hands municipality but If they under
take to jeopardise lie property-inter-
ests of Honolulu their shrift will be
very short.