The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-12-15

Both the committee resolutions re-
oiesting that the Bar Association test
the county act in the Supreme Court
and a Hatch resolution were adopt
ed at the town meeting in the Orpheum
last evening. The first resolutions
were adopted with hearty unanimity'
but the vote upon the second resolution
was not nearly so enthusiastic though
the chorus Of noes" was very weak.
The amendment to strike out the sec
sion calling for special session OF the
legislature lost by small majority.
The meeting was a lively one. 1t
was a packed meeting as well, every
seat in the house was occupied ana
from the number of Home Rulers pres
.ent and the manner in which they
worked together, it Is quite possible
that TIE threats made in the evening
papers were carried out in the other
sense of the word as well. The meet
ing was exciting from the opening with
Markham's persistent attempts 10
brea.; up the gathering until ejected
by a Stalwart policeman. through to
the finish and the hard fight on all the
resolutions. Three sets of resolutions
were introduced one by T. McCants
Stewart favoring the Hatch mission,
another by Ashford bitterly denoun-
cling it and a third which was prepared
nv the committee and which did not
mention the matter in one way or the
other.
THE MEETING OPENED.
G. w. Smith opened the meeting
shortly after 1880 o'clock and stated
that while the first town meeting was
given under the auspices of the Mer-
chants Association this was citizens
meeting with which the Association
mad nothing to do.
I.orrin Andrews moved that Mr..
Smith be made the chairman and this
was seconded by Glen Quinn and car
,ied. George Markham objected ana
protested and arose to a question OF
personal privilege but all without avail
Mr.. Smith said he would endeavor to
be lust and would listen to the argu-
ments of all.
Mr. Stewart nominated ]. L. Holt as
secretary and Lorrin Andrews nomi-
mated George Lucas. Lucas was
unanimously elected. He declined ana
then someone else nominated Ben Zap
Ian.
at move the previous question:" sold
Markham.
Holt was elected unanimously anq
was finally prevailed upon to take the
office.
COMMITTEE REPORT.
John A. Hughes presented the report
of the committee as follows
Whereas: certain differences of opin-
ion have arisen in regard to the Coun-
~ Act passed by the last Legislature
and
Whereas: it is desirable at this time
that public sentiment should be eN-
pressed with regard TO the SITUATION
therefore be it
Resolyed: that we believe in local
control of local affairs and we there
fore advocate an immediate test case
before the Supreme Court of the Ter
ritory.
Resolved: that we appeal to the Bar
Association of Honolulu to prepare at
once q test case for submission before
said court
Resolved: that in the event of the
County Act being declared invalldateo
that we advocate the immediate call
ing of the Legislature for the purpose
of reenacting a proper County law.
Resolved: that copy of these reso-
lutions be sent to the Governor of the
Territory and the President of the Bar
Association.
Before this was done Markham again
claimed the floor and asked If Mr..
Smith was temporary chairman.
Hughes was given the right to adj
dress the meeting on behalf of the
committee and did so from the stage.
HUGHES TALKS. ;.
He said: II believe these resolutions
should be given your serious considera-
ton and also your approval. The res
olutions v have read cover the case
in its entirety and meet every issue
brought to bear upon the county act.
Although the newspapers don't all CO.
incide with it l believe that point
in its favor.
Everyone wants to find out where
We are at. If we take this bill to
Congress and it is passed, that will
not save it from attack, for the United
States Supreme Court might knock 1t
out, and we would be no further ahead
than we are now. The thing to do is
to bring it before our Supreme Court
SO we know where we are at.
"The appeal which is made to the
Bar Association also should receive
your support. We all know that the
Bar Association is composed of patri-
otto and intelligent men and they will
be able to bring us out of the state of
chaos We are in today Their services
too, will be gratuitous so no time will
be lost over II.
IF the law is declared invalid then
there should be an immediate action
in calling together the legislature. OF |
course there is some doubt as to how |
the legislature will act, but believe |
that We can place confidence in it, |
and the members will proceed in |
business-like manner and pass a law |
that will yield not one cent to law
yers in fees or otherwise. Some peo-
pie say that the resolutions go too
far. others say that they do not go far
enough. 1t As not for us to consider
Mr.. Hatch-tb condemn him, or to con-