The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-17
STRONG | RftfD[IIs
IRE HERE PRODUCED
Status Of Secretary
Of Territory in
Arizona.
a elLL-OoWn N nN MEXICO
WHERE THE SECRETARY TRIED
cooPER's SCHEME OF
JoURNAlIzINe.
Incident At Honolulu % Matter u
Interest in Other Territories
The Secretary Not Regarded a.
Having Executive Powers.
Especial Correspondence. !

members Of the Twenty-first Legisla-
ture OF Arizona, just adjourned, and
former lawmakers and lawyers and
iurists Of Arizona have viewed with
considerable amusement the efforts of
Secretary Cooper of the Territory OF
Hawaii TO place himself in both houses
OF the Hawaiian Legislature with his
stenographers. accounts of which have
been sent to the press all over the
country by wire. There has been no
parallel case In Arizona, but the usual
methods pursued by Secretary Cooper
have recalled a similar episode which
took place in New Mexico, the adjoin-
ing Territory. about fifteen years ago.
There is still large percentage of
native Mexicans residing in New Mex
leo, who have taken out naturalization
papers, but at that time the popula-
ton OF New Mexico was overwhelming
ly Latin. OF about 10000 souls, ap-
proximately 100000 were native born
Mexicans who had sworn to an oath
OF allegiance to the United States.
Each Legislature was composed al
most, If not entirely, Of naturalized
Mexicans, although in most cases ma
tive born Americans received the fed
eral appointments.
appointee, holding the office of Secre-
tary OF the Territory, sought to OBJ
tain the records Of both houses by his
own stenographers. He contended
that the Mexican lawmakers were not
capable Of recording their own pro-
ceedings. Another grievance was that
the legislators might seek to enact
laws discriminating against the native
Americans Of New Mexico, concealing
the copies from Congress.
The Secretary claimed that his po-
sition required him to transmit copies
Of the proceedings to Congress and
the President, and utterly ignoring the
journal clerks, authorized by the Or
ganic Act, and of whom reports of the
proceedings were legally expected, he
sought to keep a private record for
transmission to Washington.
This Secretary made one appear
ance and was ousted so completely
that he had not time to stand upon
the order Of going. He succeeded only
in bringing down the wrath of the
legislators, who Indignantly resented
the insult to their ability to provide
records of proceedings, and Of invok-
ing hearty laugh in the lawmaking
and lobby circles of Washington. An
other break would have cost him his
position, but the President pardoned
this breach. The Secretary was an
apt pupil at parliamentary require
ments. and by diligent study his eyes
were opened to the fact that his duties
were perfunctory; that he had q GER
tain amount of recording to perform.
and that he was expected to transmit
copies Of the legislative proceedings
by the clerks of both houses.
John o. Dunbar, editor Of the Ari-
IONA Gazette, published in Phoenix,
Ariz., who has closely watched the
proceedings of Arizona Legislatures
for a score Of years, said to The Re-
publican correspondent:
You may say that in Arizona an at
tempt by the Secretary to impose him
self upon me Legislature, or in any
way to disobey the injunctions of that |
body, would not be thought Of It Is |
a thing so well understood that 1t has
never been contemplated. The New |
Mexico affair was the only instancel
Of the kind l ever heard of until ! |
read accounts of the eccentric actions |
Of the Secretary Of Hawaii. The Sec
rotary of this Territory, and so far as |
my information extends, of every Ter
ritory, has little responsibility and few
duties that are not of routine char
acter. The Secretary Is required to
record laws and acts and forward cop
les to the President and to both
houses of Congress, but by recording |
j. is well understood that he files the
proceedings as handed to him by au-
Lhorized clerks, preserving them for
He is also required to
record and file articles Of incorpora-
lion that are sent to his ONCE. He
hem on record, but Of course he has
nothing to do with the compilation
,r indexing Of any set Of articles.
The Secretary occasionally acts as
Governor. He Is called the Acting
Governor when the Governor is absent
rom the Territory. but unless he
he takes on few responsible
les. His work then consists princi-
,ally in the signing Of ordinary papers
md vouchers. put IL the Acting Gov
.rnor chooses he may grant pardons
u respites, or take on other RESPONSE
Utilities OF the chief executive. Ex-
.ept in such instances the Secretary
8 not regarded by law or by the peo-
lie as an executive onlcer."
The organic laws create and de-
Icribe the duties Of the Secretary In
his manner:
There shall be appointed Secre-
AIRY for each Territory. Who shall re
Ode within the Territory for which he
3 appointed. and shall hold hts once
or four years, and until his successor
9 appointed and qualified. unless
'ooner removed by the President In
nee Of the death, removal or absence
II the Governor nom The TsR1itory.l