The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-08
WEATHER YESTERDAY.
POWER TO ExPUNeE.

II Senator Cecil Brown knew some
thing OF the history of legislative
bodies under a free government ne
would know that either branch of tie
legislature is the judge Of its record as
well as the judge OF its membership.
Mr. Brown is having a good deal to
say these days about gag law but
the gentleman fails TO say anything
about flibustering which is the most
Objectionable proceeding that can be
instituted N legislative bodies. Be
cause the gentleman failed to apollo
gize for his insult to the President OF
the Senate and TO the Senate itself on
Tuesday ami because ne wished to
have the record OF Wednesday show
that he added insult TO injury By max
ing a statement which was practically
n renewal OF his defiance OF the rules
of the body which IL was decided not
to have appear in the record. he made
a bitter plea against the eXpunging
from the records OF his remarks of
Wednesday. MIR. Brown made state
ment Wednesday which was in con
fict with the action of the Senate and
il was within the province of the Sen
ate not 10 permit che statement of a
senator conflicting with the actual
record OF the house 10 appear in the
journal Mr. Brown and others VINO
claimed that il was not within the
right OF the Senate 10 expunge any
thing from the record simply do not
know what they are talking about
In the Congressional session of
1884 the Senate passed a resolution
denouncing President Jackson for his
action towards the United States
bank. Jackson and his friends fought
the resolution bitterly. but they were
powerless at the time to prevent its
passage. Later Senator Benton of
Missouri pleaded and coaxed the Sen
ate to expunge the resolution from the
record. but to no avail. Finally tne
political complexion of the Senate was
changed and ON December Goth, 1897,
Just four years 10 the day after the
introduction OF the resolution Of cen
sure. Senator Benton introduced n
long preamble and resolution setting
forth ne previous action OF the Sen
ate. the resolution being as follows:
Resolved. that the said resolve
be eNpunged from the journal;
and for that purpose. thai the
secretary Of the Seaa,e. at such
time as the Senate may appoint.
shall bring the manuscript jour
mai OF the session Of 1855 into
the Senate. and. in the presence
OF the Senate. draw black lines
round said resolve, and write
across the face thereof. in strong
letters. the following words: 'Ex-
plunged by order OF Che Senate.
this blank day OF blank. in the
year of cur Lord. teST.
After several DAYS aebste the res
olution was finally adopted on Mon
day. January l6. 1885, and The resolu.
ton OF censUre against Jackson ex-
plunged. from the records.
Many other instances of similar &C
ton, not only By both houses OF Con,
gress. but by legislative bodies of
the various states might be cited Mr..
Brown has grown so accustomed to
make Wild statements without the
semblance of knowledge or informa.
tion TO support them. and to have
them accepted as facts by certain
coterie in Hawaii that the gentleman
has grown 10 believe that what he
says must be so because he says il.
He is wrong in ais GENIAL OF the pow
er OF the Senate TO expunge obiec-
tionable matter from the record just
rs he has shown himself to be wrong
In many other random statements.