The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-05-06
STATEMENT OF HON SANFORD b
DOLE. GOVERNOR OF THE
TERRITORY OF HAWAII


STATEMENT OF HON SANFORD b
DOLE, GOVERNOR OF THE
TERRITORY OF HAWAII
the Chairman-In order that We may
have IL in the record, Governor, please
state your full name and your present
official position.
Governor Dole-My name liz Sanford
Ballard Dole: I am Governor OF the
Territory of Hawaii.
The Chairman call your attention
10 Senate bill i455. entitled "A bill to
apportion the term OF office OF seven
Senators elected at the first general
election OF the Territory of Hawaii,
and ask you to please give US the BEN
eft OF any observations you may care
TO make in regard to II. whether com
mandatory or otherwise.
Governor Dole-The organic act pro-
vided that the first Legislature under
the Territorial Government should ap-
portion the number OF Senators who
should hold office for two years; and
no further provision was made. The
Legislature failed to carry out the act
in that respect consequently we are
without any possibility of having le-
gal Legislature At our next term un-
less Congress gives us some relief. This
bin rs based on the principle of throw
ing out In each district enough Sen
ators who received the lowest number
of votes 10 make up this number OF
seven.
The only other way would be, per
hans, to either put all the names in q
hat and draw out seven, or TO arbl'
trarily select seven from the ffteer
and assign them to the two years
term. The Legislature, on the last day
Of it's session, held a joint session OF
both houses in which it proceeded tc
do this. II voted for three men, not
who should hold office for two years
nut who should hold office for foui
years, and then II broke down. There
was some discussion as to whether II
was legal for the Legislature to holC
a joint session, and there were som'
other objections, and enough members
stayed away to destroy the quorum
The Legislature adjourned sine die anC
nothing more was done.
The only other alternative that Seems
possible or practicable would be to pro
vide for an entirely new election, al
election of eight Senators for four years
and seven senators for two years, with
provision that all elections after thai
SHOULD eject stUdtbTS LOT lbuI year y
This bill is more in line with the pro
visions Of the organic act.
The Chairman-As ! understand It
the organic act provides that you shall
have a general assembly of two houses
and that the Senate shall consist o
fifteen members?
Governor Dole-Yes.
The Chairman-And it provided fol
their election, but did not provide how
ii should be determined which one.
should hold over?
Governor Dole-Yes; II left that t.
the Legislature.
The Chairman-The Legislature was
TO determine that. but failed to do it.
Governor Dole-Yes.
The Chairman-So that the Legisla
ture has adjourned without having de
ternined which ones hold over an,
which ones go out. Now you come I,
Congress because you have no othe
means OF determining il. Is that tn
idea?
Governor Dole-we have absolutel
no possibility of determining that mat
ter; We have no authority left to Il
to determine it,
Senator Mtchell--It IS not intende
~ NAniASN NAi' huAilbtl at all DuN SIM
ply to arrange how the terms shall b
disposed?
The Chairman-Yes.
Governor Dole-The terms are fiXe
by Congressional is, the terms are 70
four years, the Senators being electe
in installments of seven and eight. al
ternately; but at the beginning tn
two-year men have to be selected b
the Legislature, which was not done.
The Chairman-In this bill you haV
named seven Senators who shall go OF
at the end OF the two-year term, an
they are those who received the loves
vote. as i understand it?
Governor Dole-Of their respectil
districts.
The Chairman-That Is the reaso
you named them?
Governor Dole-Yes.
The Chairman-Have you considere
the feasibility Of this plan working sa
isfactorily? Are these Senators, for IN
stance, satisfied to have us so legii
late, or would they undertake to cor
test our right to do so? That may N,
be- material; but I ask simply that