The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-12
SWEEPING LEGISLATION OF THE
HOME RULERS.
Will Fight for Bills That may Sub
vert Many Old Systems-Review of
"a Few Measures.

The opening of the legislature is now
just eight days off, and a pretty fair
idea of what will be done can now be
gathered. 1t can no longer be conceal
ed that the Home Rule Party Will be
the aggressor in all leading fights, and
that it goes into the Legislature pre-
pared to fight For more than a month
the party has held daily sessions at
which all legislation to be proposed has
been sifted to the very bottom, and
bills have been prepared and adopted.
1t is plain that this will be a most
radical Legislature, as well as an eX-
pensive one. Some of the bills to be
introduced are of such great impor-
tance that, in the past, they would
probably be approached only after years
of discussion The Dispensary law is
one of them. But that is not the prin
cipal or most important one. 1t is the
intention to put through a bill carry
ing single tax in a modified form.
There may be an income tax with it,
and certainly would be were it not for
the question of consttutionality. That
law alone will so completely subvert
the tax system of the Islands that it
will take two years in which to
straighten it out.
The Chinatown fire claims will be
acknowledged and ordered paid, to the
last dollar. Party leaders are now
working on this matter, but as it is
such a big one it may be a month yet
before it can disposed of by legislation
To meet this obligation, which will
likely be between $1,50O,O00 and $2,OOO,-
900, there will have to be an increase
of taxation, which will be looked out
for, however, in the single tax bill.
The municipal charter law has as a
leading feature absolute local self gov
ernment, except where the privilege
may conflict with general interests.
Cities and towns may organize as they
please, or remain unorganized if that
be their desire. They may have liquor
if they wish it or vote it out of their
precincts should that be their pleasure.
1t is claimed that this is the first prin-
ciple of the Home Rule Party and that
it will be followed out to the limit.
Another important bill to be intro
duced is one giving to Queen Liliuoka-
lani a lump sum of $250,00O in full set
tlement of her claim against the gov
ernment. 1t is understood that this
was promised prior to the election, and
. was probably the cause OF I-ilinokalani
knitting Prince David and supporting
Wilcox, as it is alleged she did.
Stal another money bill will be the
claims of 1895, sometimes referred to as
thesBritish claims. That some of these
WIN be ordered paid seems more than
likely. 1t is understood that at least
some if not all of the members of the
Home Rule side of both houses will en-
deavor to open the entire question
again, and remunerate some If not
many natives who We're imprisoned at
that time. This is being frowned upon
by certain of their leaders, however, as
being get even" legislation, and the
party has been advised by Wilcox to
permit nothing of that sort.
Mr.. Emmeluth's proportional repre-
sentation will also come up. 1t is
learned on excellent Hawaiian author
ity that the native members thorough
ly understand the proposition and VIII
vote for the bill.
The license law will be so amended
that it's father would not recognize it,.
1t is impossible just now to forecaste
it's fate. Should the single tax bill
pass, the license law will be wiped
from the statutes bodily. In any event
the merchandise license law will be
changed, either by amendment or by
repeal and the substitution of another
law in it's place.
The Home Rulers will go into the
legislature cooked and primed for bus
mess. Their bills will be complete and
approved, and all the work ahead, so
far as they are concerned, will be fight
ing proposals for amendments, and
fighting antagonstic bills. The Repub-
lcan opposition will be led by Cecil
Brown in the Senate and A. G. M.
: Robertson in the House. As the Home
Rulers now have things fixed, business
will go through with such snap that
there are likely to be frequent cries of
"railroading."
The above observations are those of
several members of the Home Rule
Party. The men are in position to
know whereof they speak and the out
dine may be regarded as presenting
coming events. There has been some
talk of buying off some of the mem
bers should the proposed legislation
appear to Be particularly pernicuous.
"There is not enough money in Homo
lulu to buy one Home Rule vote" de-
clared a native leader yesterday with
emphasis.