The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-03
mainland VIEWS Of HAWAIIAN
IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS

the whole field of scientific and other
necessary knowledge. Hawaiian, how
ever, is nothing but a semi barbarous
speech, adapted to purposes of religious
instruction. Outside of religion and
popular poetry it has no literature.
are practically shut out from modern
knowledge. And the numbers of those
whose mother tongue 1t is are so few
that 1t has no chance whatever of be-
coming a world-speech.
If the Hawaiians. are permitted to
legislate in the native language then
the sixty or seventy dialects of the
Philippines may claim an equal privil-
eye. The result would be confusion
and contention far worse than that
prevailing in the Austrian Parliament,
and with far less excuse in the merits
of the conflicting languages. Hawai-
ians who wish to be legislators will
the supervision which Congress has
over the acts of territorial legisla-
lures affords an easy way Of checking
this Hawaiian error. When Congress
refuses to approve a few acts of the
Honolulu lawmakers because they de-
clined to obey it's mandates as to their
speech the Hawaiian politicians will
speedily discover that they can speak
English when they choose.-Chicago
Inter Ocean.
A POLYGLOT LEGISLATURE.
The first Territorial Legislature of
Hawaii is something unique. The ma
iority of it's members are native Ha-
waiians. Many of them can speak the
Hawaiian language only The debates
are carried on both in English and the
native tongue, and as the Territorial
act provides that the legislative pro-
ceedings shall be conducted in the for
mer all speeches delivered in Hawai-
ian must be interpreted. The curious
spectacle is thus presented in these de-
bates of a native statesman address
ing the House of which he is mem
Der in his mother tongue and an OIL
cial interpreter rendering his speech in
to English, all of which creates con-
fusion and causes delay
One or two nice points of law are
raised by this extraordinary condi-
ton of the legislature. The Territorial
act is peremptory in it's mandate that
the proceedings shall be conducted in
English. Is an Interpretation of a
speech delivered in the vernacular a
legal compliance with the require
ments of the act? If not, the entire
work of the legislature at the present
session may be void. If it is, what as
surance can be given that the interpre-
ter gives faithful rendering OF the
original utterance? The Territorial
act. Furthermore, limits the duration
of a legislative session to sixty days
The delays occasioned by the necessity
for Interpreting the native speeches In
to lawful English are likely to extend
the term to ninety days, as was the
custom in the days of the republic and
the monarchy, or necessary business
may have to be left unfinished at the
time of adjournment. Can the Legis-
lature arbitrarily extend its session be,
yond the time prescribed by law ano
legally transact business? In this
state we have constitutional limlta-
ton of sixty days to legislative SEES
sions, but it applies to the compensa-
ton of members only. The per diem
ends at the close of the period named
and if the legislature fails to adjourn
then the members must work without
pay. Whether this can be Interpreted
as the meaning of the Territorial act OF
Hawaii will doubtless be determined
by the courts, as legislation adopted
after the legal limit of the session has
been passed will probably be challeng-
ed The situation is certainly peculiar
and it may be impossible to alter II
without Congressional relief.-Sar
Francisco Chronicle.