Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-02-22
DECLARATION Of
INDEPENDENCE
Read in the House in
Both Languages
Yesterday.
SENATORS ARGUE ON
HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE
Independents in Favor Of an In
terpreter--John E. Bush Elect
ed--Beckley'S Fine
Speech,

Senator Cecil Brown spoke for over
ten minutes on the subject of the use
of the Hawaiian language In the pro-
ceedings of the Legislature. He said
there was plank in the platform of
the Republican party which called for
work by that party along the lines Of
having the Organic Act changed so as
to include Hawaiian. However, at the
Legislature could go counter to the
Act in such barefaced way. The Ian
guage was plain. Had Congress meant
to include the Hawaiian language. the
Act would have said so. While he him
self was sorry to see the native lam
guage excluded, still he could not vote
for an interpreter. Such an act would
be to commit an official act against the
law Of the country.
Senator White stated that in three
different places in the Organic Act, pro-
vision had been made for the use Of the
Hawaiian language in the election Of
members Of the Legislature. Why then
when this election was over and the
members had all been chosen. should
there be any doubt expressed as to the
intention of the language of the Act?
Clearly the word proceedings" meant
the record kept of the doings OF the
Legislature and all such things as bills
resolutions, petitions and the like.
Here the speaker referred to the fact
that Senator Brown who had just sat
down, had used the Hawaiian language
to translate his remarks shortly before
he had spoken on the subject. Why did
he do this? 1t was simply to make his
meaning clearly understood. That was
the only reason for the use of the ma
tive language. 1t would not be put
down on record anywhere.
Senator Carter was another who
spoke against the appointment of an in.
terpreter for the Senate He stated
|
for those Hawaiian members who
could not use the English language but
that he could not conscientiously vote
for a measure when he saw that II was
directly in opposition to the fundamen-
tai law of the country. The speaker
then referred to the advantages that
would be gained by the use Of the one
language. In the first place, the pro-
ceedings would take about half the
time they would under the proposed
circumstances.
At this point two communications
were read. One from Adjutant General
Soper. inviting the President and mem.
bers Of the Senate to the parade and
drill of the First Regiment in front OF
the drill shed Friday afternoon. was
accepted with thanks and the secretary
was instructed to make reply.
This business having been disposed
Of, Senator Achi made a motion to lay
the matter Of the appointment Of an in
terpreter on the table. This at once
met with strenuous opposition on the
part of the Independents and then
Senator Paris arose and spoke on the
: subject. He said among other things
Act had not included the Hawaiian
language but It was very clear that II
did not and. therefore, It would be q
great mistake to carry on any of the
proceedings in that language. Every
thing done by the Legislature might be
questioned. This was certainly a sorry
state OF affairs but the language Of the
Act could not possibly be made to mean
anything else than that English ex-
clusvely should be used He was GER
tainly in sympathy with the feelings
OF the Hawaiian members in the mat
ter and wished heartily that 1t might
be otherwise, "but," said the speaker
I'VE did not make the Act and we
, should be very careful about doing any
thing that is liable to get us into trou.
BILE in the future" He wished to warn
the Hawaians that they were doing
something contrary to the Organic Act
Senator Kanuha said he was vel
aware Of the fact that the question wal
a very big one but he had carefully con.
sdered the matter and had found three
= places in the Act where the use of the
Hawaiian language was allowed II
was further stated in the Act that the
| Legislature was the judge OF the mean
ing and spirit of its laws.
Senator Carter registered another
warning and then Senator Baldwin
took the floor. He took the grount
that the appointment Of an interpreter
would mean an official act against the
fundamental law Of the country. Ht
had always had strong feeling to vote
for an interpreter in previous sessions
Of the Legislature but he did not ever
suspect that the question would b.
raised in the Senate, so clearly stated
: was tho intention NJ the Organize Act