The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-02-08
LEGISLATURE Is
GETTING READY

" VERYWHERE is talk of the com
II ing meeting of the Legislature. On
February 20, Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives will assemble in the throne
room and in the upper hall that once did
duty as a banquet-room for royalty.
Thirty desks are already in place in
the throne-room for the accommodation
of as many Representatives, while fifteen
more are ready to be placed in the hall
for the Senators. The law prescribes
that the session shall last for three
months, but should the business to be
transacted necesstate more time. then
shall the session be extended for thirty
days more upon the order of the Gov
error.
| Just who will be President of the SEN
ate and who will be Speaker of the
House, are problems that are agitating
the minds of more than one member of
the Legislature, but 1t is guessed that
John +. Brown of Hilo will be the auto
crat of the Senate, while the other posi-
ton is as yet an open question.
John Emmeluth was selected and en-
dorsed by the members of the House. but
D.
a great deal of work on the floor, the
honor was declined. S. w. Wilcox, a
Democrat of Kauai, was slated for the
position, but many believe that he will
cast his vote with the Republicans in the
Legislature, and his influence is wanted
on the floor.
Republican members are opposed to
any of their men accepting the chair as
they desire them all on the floor, where
they will be of greater service. The In.
dependents are also imbued with the
same spirit, and in consequence both
sides are anxious to seat a Democrat
At 10 o'clock in the morning the meet.
ing will be called to order. the Houses
organizing separately, and then inform
ing the Governor that they are ready t
proceed with the business. Next in or
der will be the reading of the messag,
and then an adjournment will probably
be taken until the next day, when tn,
regular business will be commenced
Considerable speculation Is rife con
corning the fact that several members
of the Legislature are unable to debate
in the English language, and it is doubt.
full If the Interpretation of theii
speeches through the medium of an In.
terpreter will be permissible in law.
Section "A of the Act prescribing a law
for the government of the Territory OF
Hawaii says. "All legislative proceedings
SNAIL De conducted IN the English Ian
guage." Legal opinions differ in regard
to the literal meaning of the passage
some holding that mere Interpretation
into English complies with the law, while
others say that any speeches made in
the Hawaiian tongue would be illegal
and therefore not of any weight. In all
probability it will be necessary for the
Legislature to take action on the matter
before the question can be settled.
| Each House is entitled to clerk and
sergeant-at-arms, and will probably fill
the positions by appointing Hawaians.
This meeting of the Legislature will be
/ of more than usual Importance inasmuch
as the conduct of affairs will bear a
marked difference to the methods and
proceeding under the old monarchial and
republican Legislatures. Under the new
regime the Executive has now no voice
or controlling influence in the Legsa-
ture.
The Legislature, or rather the Senate,
/ has some voice in the executive throus i
its right to confirm or to refuse to con-
/ firm appointments, but the Executive is
absolutely shut out OF the Legislature,
except that the Governor may send such
communications or recommendation to
| 1t as he sees fit, and the Legislature, or