The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-07
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
HOUSE TAKES UP CITIZENSHIP
OF LABOR.
Dickey in the Chair Draws the Reins
of Parliamentary Rules up Taut.
Beckley's and Emmeluth's Experience

Hihio brought up his bill, No. 81,
prohibiting the employment of others
than American citizens on public
works in the House this morning
He moved that 1t be referred to the
committee on agriculture and forestry.
Makekau moved that it be referred to
the committee of the whole. This mo-
tion was adopted, and the House went
into committee of the whole with
Dickey in the chair
The bill provides, THAT all public
works in the Territory of Hawaii,
either mechanical, Industrial, or other
wise shall be performed only by Anne
rican citizens and who are qualified
voters residing in this territory"
The committee of the whole founder
ed considerably before it really began
considering the bill. Dickey would not
allow any debate until there was a mo-
tion before the committee to be debat-
ed. Emmeluth began: "Mr. Speaker
every member of this legislature is
pledged"
THE gentleman from the Fifth dis
trict is out. of order" said the chair,
there is no motion before the commit
tee."
Il move that we proceed to consider
the first section" said Emmeluth. The
motion was carried.
Mr.. Speaker, every member of this
legislature is pledged" began Emme-
luth again.
"The Representative from the Fifth
district is again out of order" said the
chair There is now no motion before
the committee"
Emmeluth sat down.
Beckley asked the chair what the
meaning of the word otherwise" was
as used in the bill; did it include pro-
fessional or scientific services?
The chair declined to give a ruling as
it was a question of verbal definition
ana grammer and not of the House
rules He suggested that a motion to
adopt would properly bring the subject
up for debate Beckley replied that he
did not want to commit himself to vote
on the question until he had a clear
understanding. The chair replied that
a motion would bring the subject up for
the first discussion, and that he would
not put the question until full oppor-
tunity had been given for discussion.
Robertson moved to amend section
one so that II would read as follows:
mo person shall be employed as a
laborer upon any public work carried
on by the Territory of Hawaii unless
such person shall be a duly qualified
voter of said territory"
rms amendment he believed would
more accurately express the intention
of the framer of the bill, than the
wording of the section as 1t stood did.
Mr.. Speaker, every member of this
legislature is pledged to this measure -
began Emmeluth for the third time.
i believe that we have the right not
only to regulate the hours of labor on
pubic works, but the class of persons
VINO may be employed on them. But it
| would be better before we commit our
selves to it that we should consider the
whole subject as well as the related
subjects"
Keliikoa, thought that as the framer
of the bill had explained what he meant
by the language he had used, it was not
| necessary to adopt the amendment Of
fered.
Monsarrat said there was a discre-
pency between the English and Hawai-
ian versions of the bill. The English
version said public works" the Ha-
waiian said government works.
Emmeluth again secured the floor.
Inc measure. he said was one on Which
poth the large employers of labor. and
the laborers agreed. The plantations
accepted it because it gave back to
them the large number of alien laborers
VINO atter working for time on the
plantations had gone on public and
other works. The citizen laborers ac-
cepted 1t because it relieved them of a
terrible pressure of competition. How
| ever there was more than this involved
In the question. The wholesale impor-
tation of Asiatic labor into the coun-
try had evolved an artisan, a mechanic
class of Asiatics. These had brought
about state of things where it would
soon be impossible under present con-
dltlons for white mechanic or an Ha-
Waiian mechanic educated up to Euro
pean modes of living, to make living
in the Territory.
1t was not question of oriental civil
llzation, but 1t was an actual and inn
minent danger of occidental life and
virtues being able to survive. Accord
ingly he thought the whole subject
should be considered together and that
further and later thought and time
should be given to the subject.
The committee of the whole then took
a recess until 2 o'clock.