The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-12-30
Especial to the Advertiser)

WASHINGTON, u. G, December "a
This week has been a very important
one in the activity here Of people who
have to do with Hawaiian affairs and
Hawaiian measures. The future of Ha-
waiian labor is largely bound up in the
fortunes of the immigration bill, pend
ing before the Senate and even before
this letter reaches san Francisco the
verdict of the Senate on that measure
may be known to the country. Hon.
William Haywood and Others interest
ed in preventing any further restric-
tions upon the admission of immigrants
to this country, have had hearings be-
fore the Senate committee on immi-
grafton. Mr.. Haywood has earnestly
the Islands and made an earnest plea
that further depression in the Islands
be not encouraged by depriving the
territory of even the meager means it
now has of getting cheap labor. But
above and beyond all his utterances be-
fore the committee, Mr.. Haywood has
been working with might and main to
defeat the legislation in the Senate,
particularly the provision for an edu-
cational test
At present there is some hope that he
immigration officials have expressed
Willingness to drop the educational test
for the sake of having the general fea-
lures of the bill incorporated into law
is regarded as a very encouraging sign.
1t will be no surprise If the bill, minus
that educational provision, should pass
the Senate almost any day next week.
With that educational test left out the
bill has nothing that would materially
hamper Hawaii.
On the other hand there is some
strong talk about forcing the bill
through the Senate with the educational
test in. Some of the labor agitators
sideration, which will have great
weight. The bill can not pass with the
educational test in without considerable
debate which would seriously endanger
the entire bill, as the Senate will soon
be crowded with work and lengthy de-
bate will kill any measure but an APP
preparation bill.
AS TO CHINESE LABOR.
The press dispatches will probably
garding the debate on the bill earlier
in the week. involving a rather lively
discussion about Chinese labor in Ha-
wall Senator Burton launched the
amendment to the bill, which | sent in
my last letter, and a vigorous debate
ensued during which he and Senator
Mitchell clashed rather forcibly. Mr..
Burton's speech, in which he stoutly
advocated the admission of Chinese in
to Hawaii, served a very useful pur
pose, as it called the attention of Sena-
tors to some of the purposes of the bill.
The intention of the friends of the
measure was to press it to final pass
the Importance of it. There We're many
Senators who actually We're ignorant of
what the bill stood for till Senator Bur-
ton had stirred them up with his fiery
earnest speech. The amendment he
presented was drawn by Mr.. Haywood
and was hurled into the breach more
for the purpose of calling a halt on the
bill than in the hope that it could be
passed.
This much has developed as to Chi
nese labor for the lslands-Senators
Burton and Foster will, from all signs
now available, be for allowing the i'm
portatlon of such labor, while Senator
Mitchell viii be against it. That part
of the report mas not been agreed to yet
by the subcommittee of Senators but
it is plain what their personal views
are regarding 1t.
y lNN AhNH ago GtHaAhI Mlltnell
thought a part OF his report would be
ready In short order for publication but
the indications now are that none of IL
win be out before the holiday recess,
which begins in about one week.
PRATT SEES PRESIDENT.
SIR, J, @, Pratt, who is sim somewhat
lame from the injury 10 his leg, caused
by a fam has been working the past
week 10 advance the interests of the
fire claims, lie was introduced 10
President Roosevelt by senator Foster
ana thanked The chief Executive for
the paragraph In his message, inserted
al the request ~ Mr. Haywood through
secretary Hay urgng the payment of
o. Nj Pratt his belief thai the claims
"ush' 10 hr siNrn earnest consideration.
I