The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-14

CHANGES IN THE
ORGANIC ACT
The Cuban Reciprocity Treaty Is
Back in Washington-WiII
Have STOUT Opposition.
Especial to the Advertiser.)

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 2.-The
beginning of the legislative efforts for
Hawaii here in Washington will come
in about two weeks, when the Sena
torial Committee expects to gather here.
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, is on his
way, having left Oregon several days
ago, but he proposes to stop at several
places on the way so there is no telling
whether he will be here for week or
ten days yet.
to say much of a definite character
about the investigation that the COM
mittee made the past summer in Ha-
wall. Just before he left Oregon, how
newspapers there more freely than he
has talked elsewhere. That is often
the case with prominent politicians.
Senator Mitchell is quoted in the news
paper article in question as follows:
My committee has collected a large
supply of information to present to,
Congress. We have now to digest that
information and to prepare our report.
To do this will take some time. The
committee will meet at Washington
November u, and will get down to work
about the middle of the month. So
you see, we will have only about three
weeks for our work before Congress
convenes. What form our reconmenda-
tions will take I am not prepared to
say. But our report will be the basis
of a number of radical changes in the
government of the Hawaiian Islands.
The laws there are defective-very de-
fective. We reached the islands in the
midst of number of Doodle scandals.
Improvements are needed in the organic
law of the territory. 1t is now high
ly centralized government without that
closely y-connected system of adm1nls-
tration which is needed for its good
operation. The territory has no depart
ments of government to correspond to
those of our counties or cities. Every
thing is under the Governor and the
i Secretary of the Territory, who are ap-
by the President. But these
are only a few of the details of our In
vestigation.'
Senator Mitchell has a collection of
pictures taken of him when ne was IN
Hawaii. At the reporters request ne
brought them forth. One of them SHOW
ed him attired in the native flower
garb. which visitors to the islands ire
ouently don for a pose before the
camera. A glance at the souvenir sug-
gested the question whether Hawah
was a good place in which to live.
"A very beautiful place" responded
the Senator Looks like Paradise. but
/ shouldn't wish to live there Ihe
climate is enervating to native OF
the Northern latitudes. It's in the
tropics, you know
The Cuban reciprocity treaty has
been the theme of much gayety in high
circles since my last letter. At this
moment it is said to be back here in
washington but hitherto unopened be-
cause most of the big officials are alb
sent and there is no one in town with
authority 10 break the seal thereof. AS
soon as the fact of the high discrimi-
mating duties against articles imported
into Cuba from other countries than the
Tinted States got abroad the diplomats
made terrific howl and there are
plenty of indications that tremendous
pressure was brought to bear upon the
weak Cuban vessels. Some think the
foraien governments will be strong
enough to prevent the ratification of
treaty. so unfavorable to them. There
have been efforts to mix up with the
negotiations, the acquisition of coaling
stations and the like but 1t seems more
nrobabIe that the reciprocity question
will be divorced from that entireiy ana
thus stand on its own merits.
within the last few days signs haVe
developed that the reciprocity tred'S