Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
LEGISLATORS At WORK
Hawaiian House and Ser ate
Are Doing Business,
CHANCELLOR THE BETTER
CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
BILL ALMOST FINISHED.
Governor Dole's Two Vetoes Overrid-
den by the Houses-A Smooth
Session.
CHANCELLOR THE BETTER
pecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

The Hawaiian legislature has developed
a most pleasing capacity for work during
the past two or three weeks, and the ses-
sion appears quite likely to be success.
The opening of the legislature and the days
that followed were marked by more or less
much of the freakish antics that made the
last legislature so useless. Freak bills and
resolutions crowded upon one another, and
long debates over trifling matters reminded
Honolulu people of the last 'Banderlog
legislature. as it was called.
The members of both houses, however,
have settled down now to days Of regular
hard work, and a large number of needed
laws will be passed before the session ends.
The senate showed a working disposition
from the first, while in the house the i'm
provement must be set down largely to the
influence of the young native speaker, F.
w. Beckley. who, though home ruler. was
elected speaker of this strongly republican
house by a strange political combination.
His course has been marked by fairness
firnneSs and Sagacity, and he rules with d
very firm and strong hand When IL Is Hec-
essary to keep the members at work.
The county government act, by all odos
the most important measure OF the session.
is at this writing practically through. Inc
differences between the house and senate
generally thought that Governor Dole VIII
sign the bill If he does not there is little
or no doubt that 1t will be passed over his
veto.
Two Vetoes overruled.
The governor has found occasion to send
in two vetoes so far, and both were over
ridden One was of joint resolution ask
ing Congress to amend Hawaii's organic
act so as to allow the use of the Hawaiian
language as well as English in legislative
and court proceedings In a strong veto
message, the force of which was admitted
by all the most intelligent members Of
both houses. the governor declined to sign
this resolution. He called attention to the
other joint resolution which the legislature
had adopted. asking for statehood, and said
that it was little use to think of statehood,
while asking for the right to use foreign
language. The cases of Arizona and New
Mexico were cited by the governor, who
said that their failure to obtain statehood
was largely due to the fact that their pop
ulation was not all English-speaking. The
republican members admitted, some Of them
openly, the weight of these arguments, but
against their own convictions they voted
to override the veto. The vote was really
regarded as one of political necessity.
In their platform last November the
republicans pledged themselves to ask
Congress to allow the use of Hawaiian,
though no person of intelligence thinks
do SO, and it was felt that failure
to carry out the pledge and adopt the
joint resolution which the executive We
toed would create ill-feeling among the
native members of both houses, and jeop-
ardize much of the work of the session.
The governors other veto was an act to
provide for cheap malt liquor licenses. The
governor pointed out many defects in the
act. which were again admitted, but the
legislature OVERRIDE the veto and promises
to pass a new law to remedy the errors
which the governor found.
An Extension of the Session Probable.
AT this writing it is regarded as GER
tain that there will be an extension of
the session fol thirty days beyond the
regular sixty provided by the organic act
The governor has intimated to some of the
members who have conferred with him on
measures that are passing through the
houses that IL the legislature shows dis
position to work and there are important
matters to be disposed of he will give
the extension. Possibly this may have to
be followed by an extra session for the
consideration of appropriations. for work
accumulates, and the adoption of the
county bill means that much must be done
10 prepare for its going into effect
The county act provides for a special
election next November, to elect county
officers. The new system of government
1,
the territory Is to turn over to the five
counties such public buildings etc. as are
designated. and there will necessarily be
general reorganization of government af-
fairs. Several of the territorial depart
ments will greatly diminish In Importance,
especially the public works and treasury
departments, the work of those depart
ments being largely undertaken by the
counties, each for itself. AS result of
this prospect appropriations will be made
at two rates, one up to next January at
about the present scale of salaries and
expenses. and another rate much lower
to go Into effect after that date
There are two city government bills in
the legislature, both aiming to make a
city of Honolulu at least. One has jtist
passed both houses. 1t was drawn by a
commission appointed by the senate in its
recent special session. and is a general
municipal law, providing that any COM
muntty desiring to do so may incorporate
by special election. The other law, intro
duced and passed in the house, makes a
city and county of the Island of Oahu,
including Honolulu. Even If the former
Is the one finally chosen. it is thought that
Honolulu will be quickly made a city, as
an election would probably result in a
large majority I'm favor of bo ,,ronos,tfo,,