The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-29
Especial to the Advertiser.)

WASHINGTON, D. c., December 49,
This week has been a very importan
one in the activity here of people wht
have to do with Hawaiian affairs ant
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-
to this country, have had hearings be-
fore the Senate committee on immi,
grafton. Mr.. Haywood has earnestly
presented the situation as to labor in
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 il
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 a
willingness to drop the educational test
for the sake of having the general fea-
lures of the bill Incorporated into law
is regarded as very encouraging sign.
1t will be no surprise if the bill, minus
that educational provision, should pass
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
want it that way. There is this con-
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 ap-
preparation bill.
AS TO CHINESE LABOR.
The press dispatches will probably
anticipate this letter to Honolulu re-
garding the debate on the bill earlier
in the week, involving a rather lively
discussion about Chinese labor in Ba-
wall. Senator Burton launched the
amendment to the bill, which I 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
10 hawaii, SGINeo d very uSS1uI puI-
pose, as it called the attention of Sena-
tors to some of the purposes of the bill
The intention of the friends of the
was to press it to a final pass
age quietly, before Senators awoke to
the Importance of it. There were many
Senators who actually were ignorant of
~
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 halt on the
bill than in the hope that it could be
passed.
This much has developed as to Chi
nese labor for the islands-Senators
Burton and Foster will, from all signs
now available, be for allowing the i'm
oortation of such labor, while Senator
Mitchell win be against it. That part
IF the report has not been agreed to yet
oy the subcommittee of Senators but
[ is plain what their personal views
ire regarding it.
A few days ago Senator Mitchell
hought part of his report would be
eady in short order for publication but
he indications now are that none of it
will be out before the holiday recess,
which begins in about one week.
PRATT SEES PRESIDENT.
Mr.. ]. G. Pratt, who is still somewhat
anne from the injury to his leg, caused
" fall, has been working the past
week to advance the interests of the
Ire claims. He was introduced to
President Roosevelt by Senator Foster
nd thanked the Chief Executive for
he paragraph in his message, inserted
Il The reauesu of Mr. HAYWOOD through