The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-15
A HORSE ON THE HOUSE
BERGERs UNCONSCIOUS JOKE ON
THE MEMBERS.
Band Plays "God Save the King in
Compliment to Admiral Bickford
House Thinks is it America"

The House of Representatives had
rather a grave yard sort of laugh on
itself this morning and as one cynic
said ''momentarily saw itself as others
see it,
The House was in the midst of a
tangle of motions when Rear Admiral
Andrew X. Bickford from the British
warship Warspite arrived at the Capt.
toI to call on the Governor. AS he ar
rived the government band struck up
"God Save the King" The House
couldn't see what was going on but 1t
could hear the music.
Immediately Representative Makekau
interrupted the proceedings by saying
in Hawaiian that the members of the
House ought to rise and remain stand
ing while the national anthem was be-
ing played. Speaker Akina adopted the
suggestion at once and called on all
including those in the visitors gallery
to rise. Several of the members were
q little slow to rise and the speaker ad-
monished them. When the music ceased
the members sat down again and went
on with it's parliamentary tangle rather
pleased with itself for having so
promptly recognized the proprtetieS.
A few minutes later, the same strains
of music were heard. The admiral was
leaving the capitol grounds. This time
the speaker did not wait for a sugges-
tion but dropping the matters before
the House, rose and indicated to the
members to rise. Most of the members
rose but some of them looked around at
each other as much as to say they
thought the band was working "Ameri-
ca" pretty hard for one forenoon.
Others did not rise at ALL and the
speaker again admonished them.
While the band was still playing and
the strains of the anthem were still
floating into the House, Beckley spoke
up. This is out of order he said.
'That is the anthem God Save the
King the national anthem of Great
Britain" Everybody looked at Beckley
and most of them looked at him as
though they wanted to laugh at man
who didn't know mat the music of
"God Save the King" was the same as
the music of America"
Dickey said he thought there was a
good deal of foolshness in the MEM
bers of the House dropping their busi-
ness and jumping to their feet every
time the music of a national anthem
happened to float in at the open win
dowS.
Beckley essayed it again. He said
the band was not playing America
at all but God Save the King" in com
pliment to the British Admiral who was
calling on the Governor.
This explanation and the finale of the
music coming at about the same time
gave the House a chance to see how
ridiculous it had made itself, and the
members sat down hiding their faces
Emmeluth as he sat down said, "whC
notified the House that America OF
God Save the King or anything else
was being played" but like the rest Of
the members he was willing to let the
incident be forgotten without pressing
the point of order he had suggested
A whole regiment of bands can sur
round the House and play America
in a dozen different keys hereafter be-
fore the members will rise again to lis
ten to it.
Just before the House took it's moor
recess, Beckley rose to a question Of
privilege He wanted to know if the
members must rise to it's feet every
time the band played yankee Doodle,
Marching Through Georgia" or any
such tune saying the Star Spangle(
Banner" was the only national tune t
be recognized
Speaker Akina said the action this
morning was solely one of courtesy.
When the Senate heard the music /
had no patriotic proprieties on draught
To it's mind Berger and the band wer,
simply disturbing legislation. The ser
geant-at-arms was just on the point o
being sent to stop the music when tn,
real situation was learned, and perhaps
an international complication wa
avoided.