Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-05-04

County Hack Law
The japanese OF the Territory intend
to put the hack license regulation Of
the county to the full test of interna-
tional law. The initial meeting to for
ward this program was held Saturday
evening when representatives of lead
ing japanese corporations gathered at
the Japanese primary school to dis
cuss the situation and determine the
best course of action.
The result was the adoption of res
olution petitioning the japanese min
lister in Washington to take action.
The resolution follows:
Whereas, In the County Act which
was passed by the Territorial Leglsla-
ture at its recent regular session, and
which was signed by the Governor on
the 22nd day of last month and pro-
mulgated on the 3Oth day of the same
month as Territorial law, contains
the following hack regulation:
Chapter Sc, Section 349: THE Sher.
in or Deputy Sheriff shall, before any
license is issued for any passenger We
hicle, inspect the vehicle for which a
license Is required Such Off
Ger shall also examine any applicant
for drivers license, and II he finds
such applicant to be a competent driver
and able to read and write the English
or Hawaiian language, he shall give
him a certificate to that effect No
license shall be issued to any driver
or any passenger vehicle until the re-
ceipt by the Tax Collector of such GER
tifCate."
Chapter 80. Section 2S2, ANY person
who shall. after the date of the passage
of this Act engage in or carry on any
business. or do any act herein enumer-
ated. the engaging in or doing which
is herein required to be licensed, with
out first obtaining license In con-
formity with the provisions of this Act
shall be guilty of INSIDE
meanor and .. Provided how.
ever, that any person now carrying on
business under an existing license may
continue to do so until the expiration
OF such license"
Whereas, this Act. II enforced. will
necessarily prohibit majority OF the
japanese residents, who are as n rule
unable to read and write the English
or Hawaiian languages, from engaging
: in this lawful business, and
Whereas, this Act, II enforced, will
practically deprive Of their livelihood
several hundred Japanese resident
who are at present engaged in the hacl
business in this Territory. and
Whereas, the enforcement of the sal,
Act will in time absolutely wipe out o
business the entire japanese hack driv
ers with the result that the total alb
senCe Of hackmen who speak the Jap
anese language, will occasion great in
convenience and hardship among tn
Japanese residents in this Territory
and
Whereas. this action on the part c
the Territorial Legislature and tn
Governor in passing such law cor
tanning such an unfair discriminate
is, we believe, contrary to the prir
ciples Of the Constitution of the Unite
States and to the spirit of the existin
treaty stipulations between the Unite
States and Japan, and is more partit
ularly a direct violation OF the solem
agreement and mutual understandin
arrived at between the two said Coun
tries at the time of the annexation c
this Territory to the United States
therefore be 1t
Resolved, First. That we get up
petition setting forth all the facts r.
same to our Minister at Washingto
with our urgent request to him to e,
operate with us automatically or othel
wise for our benefit in this matter.
Second. That the entire expense
that may be incurred in carrying OF
this movement shall be betrayed by tn
japanese residents of Honolulu and b
u popular subscription among the JaI
anese residents on the other islnads.
; Third. That with the view of az
complishing our just purpose in tn
matter, all japanese residents through
out the Territory shall work unitedl
: and tremendously.
Fourth. That a committee of tiN
men be selected by this meeting an
they be entrusted with the duty OF tai
ing any steps which in their judgmel
may be necessary or proper to carr