The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-02-20

to appoint some of which were super
huous, and he suggested that there be
wait until the committee on rules
made its report. Senator Dickey rose
to move that certain committees be
stricken out. when Senator Brown in
terposed that the matter was already
in the hands of the committee on rules.
A recess was taken at 10:40 to .
to'clock in the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session of the Senate
was devoted to a consideration OF the
Rules of Order, and the Republican
majority placed itself on record as OPP
posed to the gag rule adopted by the
last Home Rule Legislature.
Senator Brown reported for the COM
mittee on rules, after the Senate had
been regularly called to order by
President Crabbe.
The committee reported unanimously
in favor of the adoption of the rules of
1901, with the amendments as herein
after stated.
| Rule Z is amended so as to strike out
| the clause making the sIenographer a
permanent officer, and he is to be
chosen only when needed.
Rule s. fixing the compensation of
the Chaplain at 800 for the session, is
amended, as the compensation had
already been fixed at $3.50.
Rule is changed so as to permit the
presiding officer to vote in case of ties.
and also where there is a vote by ayes
and noes, instead of limiting him to
vote only upon ballot.
Under rule II the clerk. in addition
to his other duties, is required to post
| each day a copy of the order of bust
ness. Senator Baldwin stated that
this was the custom in the olden days.
Rule IA is amended so that the SER
geant at arms can purchase supplies
only subject to the approval of the
committee on accounts, instead of on
his own motion. A change is made also
striking out the section requiring that
he shall be paid for making arrests or
similar duties, Senator Brown stating
that the Senate should not bind itself,
but could vote him reward when neces-
sary.
Rule % is amended cutting the num-
Der of committees from sixteen to nine.
The new committees are as follows:
Ways and means; judiciary; public
expenditures; lands, internal improve
ments, agriculture, etc; public health
and education; enrolment, revision and
printing; rules and joint rules; miscel-
laneous petitions. The committees
omitted are those on military; claims;
intoxicants; municipal and county
laws; elections; and food adulteration
Senator Brown explained that there
would be a special committee on county
government, and also for military.
In support of this amendment SEN
ator Baldwin explained the difficulties
under which the Senate worked last
mittees and every member had three
or four, so that it was difficult to Sc
cGre a meeting of any one. BY reduc-
ing the number of committees ami
increasing the work of each he thought
that time would be saved, and there
would be less likelihood of clashes.
Rule % was amended so as to give
the ways and means committee author
ity to examine into all offices as well
as the treasury, though it was stated
that this vas not to mean exporting of
all the offices, as the auditor is en-
ployed for that purpose.
Rule % was amended so that all print
ing should go through the committee on
accounts instead of through separate
committee.
Rule 80 was amended so as to remove
the ten-minute time limit on debates,
the committee of the whole to fix the
limit at it's pleasure. Senator Bald |
win said that he didn't believe in linn |
iting debate, as he thought a man
should be allowed to speak as long as
he wanted to. and Senator Baldwin ad-
ded that the rule had been a dead letter
anyway.
Rule SIS was amended so as to require
a two-thirds instead OF a majority vote
to enforce the previous question"
Senator Brown stated that he didn't
believe in the previous question, and
did not think the minority should be
shut off by the majority. He said he
always wanted to hear what the minor
ity had to say and didn't believe in
off debate.
Senator Baldwin said he was in favor
Of the amendment also, that though the
Republicans did not have a two-thirds
to enforce the new rule, and it was in
favor of the other side, he believed in
having both sides heard.
Senator McCandless thought it mis-
AXE to change the old rule as he
thought it would be required a times.
He moved that the old rule stand.
Baldwin replied that he did not be-
ieve a simple majority should control,
hat when the minority was wrong he
believed the opposition could be trusted
% stop debate.
McCandless replied that there was a
zig lot of work, and that the opposition
,Ould entirely block the work of the
by one man talking for twen-
y-four hours, followed then by each of
lis colleagues, there would be no RENE
ly to stop them. While probably the
lone Rulers would not do such a thing,
lie did not think the hands of the
majority should be tied
Senator Kalauokalani seconded
Browns motion and it carried, McCand-
ess and Achi voting against it.
In Rule so Senator Brown reported
he amendment of the committee that
he first two readings of a bill may be
Y title, but stated that he had since