The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-12-08
A PRO-HATCH
RESOLUTION
Continued from page 81

independence of thought and express
sion, and that the Chamber of Com
i merce and Merchants Association al
! ways had more potent influence with
4 the citizens at their backs.
J Meetings of this kind are institu-
tional, they are nothing new in the
older States-the town meeting is al
ways held for the discussion of pub
lie affairs. Who would have thought
q year ago that w. o. Smith and my
self would speak from the same plat
form, or that E. P. Dole would sit at
my feet drinking in wisdom, or that
the Elder Dickey, the only member of
the legislature who didn't get a license
to practice law, should have a license
now while haven't mine Qaughter).
EXPERIENCE OF OTHER TERRI
TORIES.
New Mexico which has been Ter
ritory since 1853, with all its conglom-
crate population has never been to
Congress asking to have an act rati-
fed, nor has Congress ever repealed
an act of the local legislature. New
Mexico with Its Spanish courts, inter-
prefers in the legislature and Spanish
judges, has. never passed law with
which Congress interfered. It always
respected the right of local self gov
eminent. Arizona has been Terri
tory for thirty-fiye years, but never
asked a single piece of legislation of
Congress, and would have resented any
I attempt on the part of Congress to
legislate for It,
1.-THE right of self-government is in
herent. The New York legislature gave
power to the governor to appoint state
constabulary. But the Supreme Court
of that State declared, that although
the constitution did not prohibit such
an act, yet the people had the inherent
right OF self-government and that in
reference was Illegal. UP to few
years ago Territories granted divorces
on short residences. Utah permitted
those who signified a desire to become
residents to procure divorces. 1t was
years before public opinion was so
aroused and awakened that Congress
repealed this law; because the prin-
ciple of local self-government was rec
ognized by Congress. The only law
passed by Congress to restrict Terri
tories is the Edmunds Act, which was
passed because Utah was dominated by
the Mormons and when they emigrated
to Arizona, New Mexico and other
places the amendment was made to
cover all Territories
CONFESSED IMPOTENCE.
eve have made two attempts to pass
a county law. The first act passed by
the legislature of 1901 the governor
knocked out, this one the Supreme
Court has knocked out. And now we
want to go to Congress and confess our
mental and political incapacity, our i'm
potence to govern ourselves. Now
when Mr.. Hatch gets to Washington he
will present his views to Congress, and
I take it, am not far wrong when
say that Congress will tell him that
a session of the legislature could be
called in ten days, that Congress has
put in your control the power to pass
appropriations and pass county law,
and here you are now confessing your
inability to do it right. don't believe
that the citizenship and the intelligence
of these islands can make a greater,
mistake than to ask Congress to in
terfere with local legislation. Next we
will be going there to amend the hack
mems license. It is a reflection on the
intelligence and patriotism of the peo-
pie, and I can't understand any man
asking Congress to pass local laws
which cannot be changed except by the
clumsy enactments of Congress Look
at Congress, year after year, and dec
ade after decade, concerned with the
most important measures, and here we
are waiting, and wanting Congress to
lay down the great problems of indus
try, trusts, labor and foreign relations
to act for US. Even If this enactment
is reported fayorably by the Senate
Committee, when would it pass the
Senate, and when, oh swhen would the
House with it's 375 members pass it?
We overlook the fact that the appro- /
priations expire on January 4th, and
then there will be no Territory or coun-
ty. Will we meet under the tree and
elect the tallest man tax collector and |
give him lnatchet to do it with. That
is as wise solution as the other. ev-
eryone is willing to consent to have the
county government go on, until 1t
comes to taxpaying time Then the in
famous corporations individuals never
object) will not pay their taxes. Can
anyone believe that Congress will pass
law for US in less than three or four
months? ] believe 1t is the duty of the .
meeting to endorse a resolution Tor the :
appointment of a committee to prepare
resolutions expressing the sense of the
meeting that 1t is inexpedient for Con- !
gress to enact a county law for Ha- /
wall"
w. o. SMITHS VIEWS.
Mr. w. o. Smith said that he hesitat- |
ed about accepting an invitation to adj
dress the meeting because he didn't be-
lieve that his views could help the COM !
munity.
"The status of the county act" said
Mr.. Smith, turns largely on the wis
dom or unwisdom of asking Congress
to ratify the county bill already passed
by the legislature. I agree with the
speakers who want local self-govern-
ment; we all want it. 1t is new form
of government, practically a revolution
in the government of Hawaii, and in
addition to the inherent difficulties
there haupenS to he an unusual eInbar-