The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-12
TOWNMEET|NG
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cannot understand English"
K11malae's motion was not put
]. A. Matthewman moved that the
resolution be adopted and Senator
Dickey seconded.
MR.. THURSToN SPEAKS.
T.. A. Thurston moved that the last
amendment relative to a special ses-
sion of the legislature be rejected. He
said in mart: IT did not come here es-
pecially to speak, and was not at the
last town meeting, but 1 do not think
that these resolutions should be adopt
ed without discussion or some express
sion of opinion. There have been many
statements in the public press and on
the streets, the subject matter of which
was the mission to Washington, which
is not mentioned in this report. l
fully coincide with the views of the
committee in leaving out this refer
ence to the mission to Washington. L
was and still am opposed to such an
expedition as that of Mr.. Hatch, for
the reasons which were pretty well
stated at the last public meeting. But
the conditions have changed entirely
from those of week ago. At that
time it was proposed to do something.
Now something has been done. The
matter has been presented before Con-
gress and there are now reasons why
we should not take a stand against it
and present a divided front to Con-
gresS. We must present one united
front and not do as California has been
doing, sending divided delegations to
Washington. Although I am opposed
to Mr. Hatch's going to Washington,
and believe that we are able to take
care of our own local affairs yet the
bill to approve the county act having
been already introduced, / for one be-
lieve that we should leave the matter
entirely alone and not present wrang-
ling front in Congress.
81 do not think that those who favor
taking the case before the Supreme
Court for test, want the county law
knocked out. I did not believe that it
was a sound policy to have seven gov
ernments in these islands with popu-
lation less than that of one ward in
New York City, but the feeling of the
majority of the people are favorable to
county government and it was ex-
pressed in the conventions of both par
voice of the legislature, and I for one
accept the county law as the one which
will rule in this Territory
But there is the uncertainty about
the law, which even the original advo-
Gates of county government admit, and
the interests of every citizen, every
man, woman and child in the Territory
are jeopardized until we know whether
it is law or not, until they get an au-
thoritative decision of the Supreme
Court.
For this reason the committee has
called upon the Bar Association for aid.
But when we say, as these resolutions
do, that now, two or three weeks be-
forehand, that we want TO call the leg
islature together to pass new county
act, when we don't know what the Su-
preme Court is going to do, believe
we are going too fast, especially in
view of the revelations regarding the
legislature made within the past two
or three weeks.
81 renew the amendment already
made, that the portion of the resolu-
tions be rejected that calls for spe-
cial session of the legislature, as this
would only further destroy confidence.
I see the Attorney General quoted at
the last meeting as saying that it
| would cost $4,000 and while I do not
believe it would be that much, yet it
would certainly cost a great deal of
money. which we cannot afford at this
| time. There is no need of borrowing
| trouble when we are not certain that
the Supreme Court will knock the
| county act out. Because 1t did knock
out one section is no particular reason
why the remaining portions are invalid.
1.-TWO prominent attorneys who have
been giving the matter some study are
positive that the reasons given by the
Supreme Court for knocking out the
Territorial Board of Public Institutions
do not apply to the balance of the law
1t is unsound to consider beforehand
that we want an extra session and still
further increase the feeling of in
security. / am in favor of waiting un.
til the Supreme Court has passed upor
the question
E. P. DOLES VIEWS.