The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-03-26
THE COOPER CASE.

partment towards the expulsion from
the floor and body of the House of Ter
ritorial Secretary Cooper, there are two
sources OF local information now avail
able One is the correct and unpreju-
diced report of the Associated Press;
the other is the story Of an anonymous
writer whose Washington news" sign
ed Il. s. L., is of character which
might easily have enabled 1t to have
been written or amended in Honolulu.
The Associated Press dispatch has
been published by the evening papers
and by the Advertiser 1t reads as fol-
lows
Secretary Hitchcock has called on the
Governor of Hawaii for report on the
recent election of the Territorial Score
tsry from the floor of the Legislature In
response to a request for construction
OF the laws imposing the duties Of the
Territorial Secretary, the Interior De-
partment has replied by pointing out the
statute provision and saying that the
method of recording the legislative pro-
ceedings unless specifically stated In ex-.
listing laws, must be determined by the
Territorial authorities.
This is clear to everyone who under
stands the official use of the word "au-
thorities" at Washington and other cap
itals. The word applies to executive
and administrative officers charged with
the carrying out of the law, civil or
military. judicial officers are some
times, but legislative members are
never so classed. congressman make
laws for the control of the District of
Columbia, for example, but the "au-
thorities" of the District are those who
directly manage 1t, the members of
Congress not being known as such. SO,
too, congressman make laws for the
government of the Army and Navy. but
they are not in any sense military or
naval authorities" In the Territories
the authorities" so-called are the men
charged with permanent administra-
ton. not the epipemeral Legislators who
make laws for a few weeks and then go
home, to be called together between SEES
sions if at all by the authority of the
Governor. Were the members OF the
legislature the authorities" of Hawaii
they should stay in office the year
around. for It Is inconceivable that per
sons upon whom devolyes the RESPONSE
btlity of carrying on the Territorial
government should be- given but sixty
or ninety days opportunity to manage
a twelve months Job.
The Correspondence" of the Hum
phreys paper was obviously made up or
made over in the local office to break
the force OF the Associated Press dis
patch. 1t has the same fake marks
that appeared on similar telegram"
Of some months ago alleging that the
Government was about to bring suit to
annul certain Territorial land sales.
Here r. the bogus communication in
full.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., March Il. via
San Francisco. March E--Secretary of
the Interior Hitchcock has called upon
Governor Dole for a complete official re-
port of the ejectment of Secretary Coop
from the door of the Legislature
Pending report, no official of the Gov
eminent is permitted to talk about the
edectment. I find. however. that the gen
sral opinion Is that the Legislature did
exactly right in ejecung Cooper. II il
deemed his presence hindrance TO free
Legislative action.
The paragraph in the Organic Act di-
recting that ne report the doings OF the
Legislature does not give him the right
to thrust himself upon the Legislature
by practically assuming TO be member
OF it, II is agreed all around that the
Hawaiian Legislature itself has an abso-
Lutte right TO say in what manner Cooper
shall report the legislative proceedings
and the Legislature, therefore, Is Coop
ter.
When Doie's report gets here the Int
rior Department will probably issue
statement concerning the case II Dole's
report is prejudged against the Legtsla-
ture there will follow complete !nvesti-
cation OF the attitude OF the executive
department OF Hawaii towards the Legis-
lature. f. S. LITTLE.
The ear-marks Of Humphreys edi-
oriai are very clear indeed. The "tele
gram" simply paraphrases the opinions
the paper has published from time to
time: and IL is so hastily and clumsily
made that II defeats It's own purpose,
The alleged T.. $. Letters which may
easily change. on analysis, into f.. 5
&. says that mo official Of the Govern
ment is permitted to talk about the ,
# ectment, but the general opinion Isl
SO and so. What general opinion2 II
the officials will not talk the opinion .
cannot be reported as theirs; and as
for the general opinion OF outsiders 1t
counts for zero not having, so far as
the newspapers show, ever been sI-
pressed. The rest Of the telegram
simply embodies the false report OF the
Cooper proceedings printed at the time .
by the Humphreys paper itself. and in
cludes that journals contemporary
statement that the Legislature is
cOoper's master" We hardly need
aver that no one at Washington who
knew a hawk from a handsaw ever said
that The Legislature had nothing TO
10 with Cooper's appointment; II can
not remove him. IL cannot add 10 or
subtract from his salary; II can only
make certain use OF his oiiice within
very definite legal limits.
Very soon We shall have the fun text
II MI liltohcocks letter 10 GOV Dole.
when u comes lea the public Judge be- I
"een the Associated Press dispatch J
ma the obviously faxed correspondence
.rfarrrd 10 aboys
s