Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-13
AFFAIRS IN Hawaii
The Language Question Now
a Prominent Issue.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
REoPENING OF BRITISH CLAIMS
AGAINST FORMER REPUBLIC.
Japan Anxious About Emigration OF
Her People From Hawaii
to Mainland.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT

HONOLULU. T. H. April 1, 1903.
Already two resolutions on the subject OF
using the Hawaiian language have passed
the legislature here, and the language ques-
ton now threatens to endanger the county
government act, which was the measure
most prominently advocated by all parties
during the last campaign. 1t was agreed
on all hands that the islands ought to get
rid of the system under which the cen
traIized government in Honolulu had con-
troll of everything, and a county govern
ment act drafted by commission appoint
ed at the special session of the senate was
the first act introduced in the senate at the
present session and is act number three in
the house.
In spite of unanimous support Of such
measure in all the parties there appear to
be grave difficulties in the way Of
king it law. The house has so far
insisted upon amendments placing the
control of the school system with the coun-
ties, and doing away with the present sys-
tenn, under which the territorial administra-
ton controls them. The real motive of this
proposition is the perpetuation of the Ha-
waiian language. Under county control in
a number of the districts the schools would
be under the complete control of Hawaii
ans, and the Hawaiian language would be
the language of the schools. This is the
desire of many Hawaiians, and the fight
for such a proposition at the present time
| endangers the whole county bill
Congress May Act.
There is very general impression In Ha-
wall that If the local legislature falls to in
augurate city and county government, or
at least one of the two, Congress will step
in and provide for local self-government in
the Islands, as the Mitchell senate Commits
sion recommended. The Filipino. under
American rule today, has in many districts
far more local self-government than the
Hawaiian, for in Hawaii that in Honolulu
controls everything. even to the construc-
ton of sidewalk in Hilo, which is weeks
steamer trip from communication with
Honolulu.
A joint resolution has been adopted by
both Hawaiian houses asking that Con-
gress amend the organic act of Hawaii to
provide that the Hawaiian language shall
be official, the same English. 1t is ask
ed that the use of the language be allowed
in legislative proceedings, and that any per-
son be declared qualified juror who can
speak and read and write either the English
or Hawaiian language, instead of the Eng
lish language only, as is provided now 1t
is well known among whites and the more
intelligent Hawaiians that there is not the
least chance that Congress will adopt these
proposals to encourage the use of a dying
language, but in neither house was there
any opposition to the resolution, and it is
sent to Washington for what it is worth.
Traiislations Waste Time.
The legislature on the whole is distinctly
more businesslke than the last one though
it Is far from a good working basis. The
greatest difficulty is the language PROPOSE
ton. In both houses It was held to be nee
essary to appoint an official Interpreter, and
have every document and speech given in
both English and Hawaiian. This reduces
the actual time of a session more than one
half. The organic act provides for sessions
of sixty days. but with the interpreta tons
the actual sessions are less than the equal
of thirty days. Every morning the minutes
are read first in English and then in Ha-
waiian and the two readings last often
until after II o'clock. Then every communi-
cation no matter how long. is read first in
English and then in Hawaiian. Every mo-
ton, every remark made the floor, is
given in both languages through the inter-
prefers, the Hawaiian rendition taking on
an average third longer than the English.
The organic act provides that all legisla-
tive proceedings shall be in the English
language, and 1t is the opinion Of many
that the Interpretation is Illegal but no
contest has ever been made on the PROPOSE
ton. There several Legislators who
would be helpless without the interpreta-
ton. though the number Of such is less
than In the last legislature.
British Claims Revived.
Under an act recommended by Gov. Dole
commission is about to be appointed to
inquire into the claims OF certain British
subjects against the republic Of Hawaii for
alleged ill-treatment at the time of the
abortive revolution of 1895 in Honolulu. 1t
is understood here that the recommended
ton was the result of representations from
Washington the British government hay-
ing begun to press the matter.
Up to the time of annexation the two
governments had utterly failed to agree.
ha rif fSbn II
eral In Hawaii was a rejection of the Ha-
waiian governments views Of the matter,
and a suggestion that the subject be re-
ferred to arbitration, England then treat
ing the republic of Hawaii as an fnde-
pendent nation. The reply by Cooper said:
Il have the honor to reply that this gov
eminent appreciates fully the courteous
prop osition of her majesty's government to
submit the matter to a disinterested arbi-
traitor, and is pleased to consider it as an
evidence of the friendly feeling of her ma
5esty,s government toward this republic.
The Hawaiian government however, does
not consider that it has authority to act in
the premises, in view Of the contamination
of the annexation Of this country to the
United States of America"
The claims are based upon alleged ILL.,
treatment of British subjects by the Ha-
! waiian government in 1895. at the time
when the Wilcox rebellion against the Dole
government took place. an effort being
made to restore the queen. A quantity Of
arms were landed from schooner at Dia-
mona Head, ana plans were laid to seize
the government, but they were badly man
aged. Gov. Dole declared martial law, and
large number of rebels and suspected
rebels were imprisoned.
Japs Coming to the Mainland.
very considerable emigration of Jana
nese from Hawaii to the mainland has been
taking place of late. and the Japanese gov
eminent is stirring itself to put stop to II.
For some reason the imperial government
does not allow Japs to go to America but
over a hundred left Honolulu for California
recently on one order for laborers to 20 to
the Alaskan fisheries. They went in two
different steamers. and the local Japanese
consul tried to stop the last lot by warn
ings. The warnings. however were un-
needed.
The Japs who go to the mainland with
out permission Of their home government
will find themselves in trouble If they ever
return to their native land. but the repre-
sentatiyes of California concerns have been
holding out alluring hopes which make
many of the little brown men want to go
there. With a view to putting a stop to
the migration, the acting Japanese consul
to Hawaii has posted throughout the Is
lands the following notice to emigrants In
tending to go to the mainland Of the United
States OF America:
An Official Warning.
ssE.yerv emigrant is expected tn obev tho