The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-08
LANGUAGE QUESTION



San Francisco. March Slate dis
patches from Honolulu say.
With both houses in control of the
Independent Home Rule party and con-
tanning a majority Of native Hawaiialis.
the legislature has already been the
scene of some remarkable proceedings
and the end OF the sessions promises to
see many very radical measures adopt
ed, among those to which the controll-
ing party is committed being a liquor
diSpensary law. taxation system that
will be a combination OF single taxation
and the income tax doctrines, an cleo
ton law based on proportionate repre-
sentati and a law excluding from the
territory all persons who may arrive here
afflicted with consumption or leprOsy
The. question Of languages is another
source Of trouble. The organic act says
that all proceedings of the legislature
shall be conducted in the English lang
uage Half of the members can not
speak English and Hawaiian interpreters
have been employed in both houses 1t
is the opinion Of some lawyers that this
viii invalidate all proceedings and this
matter viii come before the courts when
some laws have been passed Chief Jus
tice F'rear and Governor Dole. who Were
members OF the commission that ADOPT
ed the rule IN question have expressed
the opinion that il was intended to pro-
vide that no language but English
should be spoken Independents claim
that it means that laws and resolutions,
etc, shall be in English Every measure
and every speech is being given in both
English and Hawaiian. The house meets
in the throne room Of the old palace
building now occupied by government
officers. The speakers chair is the for
mer throne Of Hawaiian mOnarchs.
The steamship ZeaIandia has arrived
here with T69 Porto Ricans from Port
Los Angeles. Three of the immigrants
died on the way. The immigrants are be-
ing sent in island steamers to various
plantations It is reported that the Yea
Iandia is to make several trips as a car
rier OF Porto Rican Immigrants and that
at least 5000 more win De brought here
by her in the near future
The Inter-island Telegraph company
has given formal notice of the opening
for business Of the wireless telegrapny
system between Honolulu and the island
of Maui The system has long been un-
satisfactory condition for regular bust
ness and the company states that it Will
soon extend communication to Hilo.
The case of Editor Edwin S Gill
charged with assault with a deadly
weapon upon n. I. stevens, has begun
before Judge Humphreys
Annual meetings or several sugar plan
tatiOns have been held here. The mana
poets for the coming year Most of then.
report having had some difficulty on ac-
count Of scarcity Of labor. In some cases
the acreage planted was slightly LESSEN
ed on account of labor. The managers
all report the labor situation improved
ard IL is expected now that many Porto
RicanS are being brought here there will
be no further trouble.
William f. Marshall. former editor Of
the Volcano has been released from
Oahu jail on pardon from Governor
Dole. He was sentenced for six months
for criminal libel Of the late Chief jas
tice Judd ard he had served four months
The German steamer Eva, Captain Pc
terson has put i'm here for coal on fhel
way from San Francisco to YolSahana
having been driven out Of her course and
severely used UP by a hurricane. Size
was 50 delayed that she had not coal 10
last her to Yokohama