The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-21

THIS HOUSE,
"THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
THAT THE SAID SECRETARY
HENRY e. COOPER, BE AND is
HEREBY REQUESTED TO REMOVE
HIS DESK FROM THIS HOUSE."
If the proceedings in the House this
morning can be taken as any indication
of the future sessions of that branch of
the legislature the first American leg
islature of Hawaii will be the warmest
body that has met in many years.
The entire mNning was occupied
with the discussion over a motion offer
ed by Fred. w. Beclxley of the Third
District requesting Secretary of the
/ Territory Cooper to remove his table
from the floor of the house. The reSo-
luton practically took the stand that
the House had the right to act as the
censor over all reports of its proceed
ings which should be sent to the home
government at Washington, d. c., and
Secretary Cooper had no right to take
an Independent report, of what trans
pired. The resolution did not state this
but that such was its purpose was evil
dent from the sentiments expressed by
its sponsor and the others who sup
ported him.
The Independent party did not main
tain solid front by any means over
the issue and several of the Democrats
expressed themselves as opposed to the
measure. The Republicans who spoke
upon the matter were opposed to the
resolution.
The speakers who did not approve of
the resolution based their claims up
on the following portion of Section SO
of the Organic Law That there shall
lNsa .
who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate of the United States
and who shall be a citizen of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii and hold his office for
four years and until his successor shall
be appointed and qualified unless SOON
er removed by the President. He shall
record and preserve all the laws and
proceedings of the legislature and
all acts and proceedings of the
governor and promulgate procla-
nations of the governor. He
shall within thirty days after the
end of each session of the legislature,
transmit to the President, the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives of the United
States one copy each of the laws and
journals of such session."
The entire debate hinged about this
clause, Mr.. Beckley and his supporters
claiming that if the Secretary of the
Territory wanted to make any report
he should take it from the official rec
ord kept by the secretary of the House.
Mr.. Cooper was not given the right by
this clause to be on the floor. Mr.
Beckley declared that his object in in
Producing the motion had been in order
that the administrative department
should be kept separate and distinct
from the Legislative. The House had
the right to elect it's own officers he
declared. 1t had been given that right
by the Constitution, and this was done
by all other states and territories of
America. The house had the right to
say who was entitled to occupy a seat
on it's floor.
The matter was finally compromised
by tabling the resolution until next
Monday morning.
Mr.. Cooper was present during all
of the proceedings and a smile was fire.
quently observed on his face during the
course of the debate. No remarks were
addressed personally to him however
and the speakers were particular
enough to state that they had no par
ticular objection to him as an individu-
al but insisted they were standing up
on what they considered to be their
rights as legislative body. Mr.. Coop
er did not retire until the session of the
house had been concluded. His steno-
grapher was also present and made a
report of the proceedings.
The second days session of the House
of Representatives began at 10 o'clock
today.
After quite a lengthy prayer by the
chaplain, the roll was called. Several
OF the members were absent, among
them John Emmeluth. The secretary
by some mistake in the list called the
name of George Hons, who NYas de-
feated for the house on Maui. At
tention was called to this little dis
crepency so the decidedly honorary
membership of the gentleman who
also ram" was short lived. Mr..
Dtckey also arose and said that he
had been overlooked entirely and his
name not called. At this point in the
proceedings John Emmeluth entered
so upon the suggestion of Mr.. Mon
sarrat the roll was called second
time showing that only j. X. Kekaula
and j. w. Keliikoa, the members of
the House from the second district who
were absent yesterday, were the only
missing ones.
The minutes of the previous meeting
which We're very minute and complete
were then read by the secretary.
This part of the proceedings coupled
with the Interpretation into the Hawai- |
ian language seemed interminable and
it was 10:30 when Interpreter Wise
finished the last of the task.
William Mossman sprang to his feet
with a correction. vital to the admins |
tration of legislative affairs of the Ter
ritory His name had been called as
William Fl. Mossman, Jr." when it
should not have the III" This cor
rection was made and then under sus-
pension of the rules the Speaker or
dered them approved.
CONTINUED on page hve)