The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-09
MEMORIAL 70 N K|NLEY
TENT OF THE DOCUMENT SENT
YESTERDAY.
Responsibility for Failure to Legisate.
Must Rest Upon the Home Rule
Party-Dole's Course Approved.

The following is the memorial en-
dorsing Governor Dole sent to the
+. esident yesterday through Col Sam
uel Parker:
Honorable William Mckinley.
President of the United States
Sir:
We, the undersigned, comprising
members of the Executive Committee
OF the Republican Party of the Terri
tory of Hawaii, and Republican Mem
bers of the Legislature, have the honor
to submit the following statement;
resolution having been adopted by
certain members of the Legislature of
Hawaii making charges against Cover
nor Dole and asking you to remove him
IRON Office. we feel that it is due to you,
TO the Governor to the Republican
Party in Hawaii and to the political
and material interests of this Territory
that the following facts be laid before
you, viz:
SAID resolution is very general in
character and contains no specific
charges; the object of it is to excuse
the Home Rule Party for it's failure to
enact substantial legislation, and to lay
the blame on the Governor The facts
show that it is impossible for the Home
Rule Party to escape from the respon-
sibility of such failure.
AT the last election, the Home Rule
rarity elected over two-thirdS of the
House of Representatives and within
one OF two-thirds of the Senate Sew
eral weeks before the meeting of the
Legislature the members elected by the
Home Rule Party assembled in Homo
lulu, investigated the various depart
ments of the Government, where they
were accorded every courtesy and faci-
lily, and agreed upon their legislative
measures
BY virtue of their majority the Home
Rule members of the Legislature natur-
ally took, on the organization of the
Legislature. all the offices and the con-
troll of the committees of both houses:
they limited debate. adopted a rule for
the previous question, and thus obtain
ed complete control of the Legislature,
and had it in their power to fully carry
out the program prepared by them. In
stead of promptly proceeding with leg
islation they delayed the introduction
of bills which they regarded as most
important. For example their County
Bill. one of their main party measures,
was not introduced until the session
was half over, and was then found to
be so full of errors so illogical and in
complete in form and substance, that
it was abandoned, and in the closing
days of the session a substitute bill was
introduced, radically different from
and but little better than the first. This
was numerously and materially amend
ed, and was finally passed through the
House with many acknowledged def
ciencies which, its supporters stated.
would be remedied in the Senate. No
complete copy was made of the bill as
it passed the House, but a patchwork
copy of the original bill, with sections,
lines and words erased or interlined
Y.TtN 4, l.
was sent to the Senate. No copies of
the bill as it passed the House were
sent to senators; the single mutilated
House bill filled with erasures amend
ments and additions, and covering
some seventy pages Of legal-cap, was
all there was to indicate the intention
of the House concerning a bill which
radically changed the form of govern
ment of the Territory. The bill was
read the first time by title; the majori-
~ refused to refer it to a committees:
refused to have it printed; refused to
allow it to be typewriter, or even to
furnish senators with information as
to what the changes from the original
bill were.
On the next day the bill was read
through, Republican senators taking
down hurriedly the amendments as best
they could. The consideration of
amendments and all discussion was re-
fused the majority members pledging
themselves that discussion would be
allowed and amendments considered on
third reading.
On the third day, ignoring their
pledge the majority suspended the
rules, read the bill by title, and thus
finally passed it, without the Senate
HAVING any copy of the bill other than
the single patchwork copy received
from the House, and without allowing
Republican senators an opportunity to
amend the same. Other measures
deemed important by the Home Rule
Party were similarly dealt with.
Being the first session of the Legis-
lature since annexation constructive
Legislation in a broad spirit was essen
tial for the welfare of every class and
interest. Instead of adopting this line
of procedure, the majority party refus-
ed to introduce an appropriation bill,
although estimates therefore We're duly
submitted by the Governor at the OPEN
ing of the session; and even failed to
apportion the Senators as required by
the Organic Act, although bill there
for was introduced by a Republican
early in the session, and the Home Rule
members were repeatedly urged to pass
the same or some similar measure.
Although annexation has deprived the
Territory of all custom duties, and of
other revenues. thus materially affect
ing the finances of the Territory, and
although the Treasury is in a depleted
condition, the only revenue producing
measure passed was introduced by a
Republican.
One of the causes of the failure of the
members of the Home Rule Party to
attain their objects, and which prevent
ed the Legislature from accomplishing
more, was the inslstence by the Home
Rule members upon the use of the Ha-
waiian LANGUAGE in Legislative proceed
ings, Notwithstanding the Organic Act
provides that: "All legislative proceed
ines shall be conducted in the English
language" They elected interpreters
and required Interpretation of all bills,
resolutions. motions and debates.
A further cause of delay and waste
of time was the apparent petty jealous
les amonP the Home Rule members,
and their lack of any recognized lead
ership. This was so apparent that the
President of the Senate, himself
Of tho Homo Rnla PARTY re-