The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-02-05
Especial to the Advertiser.)

=
"a WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 23.-The
fire claims bill is now a law, after one
oN3t the hardest and longest Legislative
campaigns that has been fought at the
Capital in behalf of a Hawaiian meas
ure The end came quickly and more
easily than any one had expected. That
law and the coinage law are great
achievements for one session of Con-
gress. They probably constitute the
greater portion of the legislation pos
sibIe for Hawaii at this session. The
KohaIa Ditch bill, which has been
pending before Congress for going on
two years now, will probably become
Law, although Mr.. A. C. Gehr is here
{ 6ghting it strenuously and talking
earnestly about a 100000 bank account
of a prominent Hawaiian, which Mr..
Gehr apparently thinks has been dis
sipated in the ditch Senatorial cam
disposed to fight the bill earnestly ;hay
might be able to defeat it, but there
would be little wonder if the bill be-
comes law even before this letter reach
es Honolulu.
The Ditch bill was reported out of
the Senate Committee on the Pacific
Islands and Porto Rico without discus
sion. Mr.. Tuttle came down to Wash
irgton from New York to aid Mr.. Gehr
wherever possible. They have been re-
manning here to add to the gayety of
the contest.
FIRE CLAIMS BILL.
Mr.. ]. C. Pratt was much congratu-
lated on his success in pressing the
fire claims bill to its final passage. He
has worked industriously on the meas
ure, was unceasing in his efforts to see
members of the House and explain the
status of the measure to them. AS
stated in my cablegram on the day OF
the massage of the bill he has been
staying here briefly to consult with the
,ksszsury Department officials about the
- ssof bonds to the extent of S9Oc'Ooo
which the measure authorizes.
Rut the part that Mr.. William Hay
wood pIaved in securing the passage OF
the hin also secured for him many
warm congratulations. He has oone
vast amount of work on the measure
in the last two or three years ana mas
taken hold of it in lively fashion TINS
winter. whenever he could see an op-
portunity TO help along.
representative Robinson, of Indiana
a Democrat, who had given to the hie
claims bill more careful study than any
other member of Congress and VINO was
o., ardent advocate of its passage, was
= ohsant when ex-Gov. Powers of Maine
called II up on suspension day. me
,.,,,ar,,or was very doubtful about the
success of his attempt.
1--WE are going to try" said ne u
mo a short while before the House was
called to order that day, but II Is
ro.,o-, hone. The Speaker has prom
saa nc a special rule for the measure
o,,iaad we can not pass it by unah-
mons consent or by a two-tnlrds VIZ :
,nder suspension of the rules out tue ;
rule affords little encourage
,,ant because it must take its turn anu 7
.,,.a are now almost enough speciai ,
-, o,,aod of us to occupy the time
a this session of Congress
"1 am trying" added the governor
= he sat at his desk and watched the !;
.Iock ito condense my speech, for
expect there are lots of other fellows
vho will want to talk and the time is
,orv ,;,,,ited under such proceeding.
The governor got away on his speech