The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-09-16
OF INTEREST
TO HAWAII
Island Statutes In
Washington
Demand.
CliaH Special 10 Nc Adyeriiscf)

Further immigration legislation, cspcci-
ally the restriction thereof has been
broachcd considerably within the last
week in connection with the Presidential
campaign Chairman Babcock Of the
Republican Congressional committee
who came over from New York for a
day recently, sounded a distress call
about the control OF the next House. 1t
is not believed the Republican control
of the House is at all in danger, for the
party securing the Presidency has al
ways had control of the House elected
that year, with the exception OF the ex-
ceptional year of 1876 when many claim
that Tilden, not Hayes, was entitled TO
the presidency. One OF the reasons Mr..
Babcock gave of the necessity for Re-
publican House for the first two years
of the next administration was that the
Republicans wanted to pass immigration
legislation. The belief, in well informed
quarters, is that Chairman Babcock ut
tiers his plant so as to scare moneyed
men to giving fat campaign contribu-
tions. But in other quarters the demand
for immigration legislation is voiced.
Some of the influential weeklies pub
lshed in New York, join in the cry.
1t may be quite forgotten, save by a
few of those Immediately interested,
after the election but because of the
vital importance of such matters in Ha-
waii should not be overlooked.
IMMIGRATION.
A year and more ago when the immi-
grafton laws were revised, it was gen.
orally announced that that concluded
immigration legislation for a consider
able time. The large transportation in
terests will be averse 10 the opening of
the question again and it would be prac-
tically impossible to enact any important
changessin the existing statutes at the
coming or short session of Congress,
which adjourns by constitutional limi-
tation March 4 next. Should the sub
ject be opened in the Fiity-ninth Con-
gress, which is the Congress to be elect
ed this fall-as far as the House is con-
cerned-the struggle to enact an educa-
tional qualification would undoubtedly
be renewed 1t is barely possible that
some of the Republican agitation of the
question just at present is purely politi-
cal. The Chicago convention last June
failed to reinsert the plank of its 1000
convention declaring for the restriction
of immigration. This omission has been
siezed upon by Democratic politicians
as evidence that the Republican party
are not needing the interests of organiz-
ed labor as strenuously as it might.
The charge is even made that the omis-
sion was because of a forcible request
from the big transportation companies
If that be the fact, it is all the more
that further immigration
legislation will be undertaken during the
next Congress.
HAWAIIAN STATUTES.
Chief w. B. Acker, OF the Miscella-
neous division OF the Interior Depart
ment, through which passes all business
with the Hawaiian Territorial govern
ment, says 1t is surprising how many re-
quests come to the department regard
ing the statutes enacted by the Terri
torial Legislature. These inquiries
come from many different States. The
department. requires the Territorial gov
ernment to forward here copies of the
statutes enacted at each session of the
Legislature, one set for the use of the
Interior Department, one set for the
House OF Representatives, and one set
Tor the Senate. In fact the law requires
hat But in addition Mr.. Acker has re-
Iuested that one additional set be for
warded, which he sends to the Con-
yressional library, so that the laws OF
Hawaii can be accessible to anyone who !
chooses to go there for them.
1T would be an excellent idea, if the
Territorial authorities would send copies
II the acts of the Legislature to the
arge libraries and especially to the
ibraries in the several large cities" said
Mr. Acker this afternoon. when | sug-
rested that possibly a wav could be
ound to do as much "The Territory
ould be placed on the exchange list OF
many of the big libraries and receive
ertan publications in return, But the
het advantage would be in affording TO
nQurerS ready access TO this iniorma-
ion, There is OF course, very general
lck OF knowledge about the laws OF the
'erritory. When the Territory was
eeking TO sell It's bonds 4 few months
go we had an urgent request from New
'ork one day for copies of certain Ter
torial laws regarding the legislation
those bonds. Prospective
urchasers in New York OF those bonds
'ired their agent here in Washington
} get for them the exact language Of
le law.
But that is only one OF many in
anceS Requests for information about
Iawaiian statutes are coming in here
'om time 10 time and OF course. it
10 the advantage OF the Territory 10
AXE such information easil'' accessible
would help rs greatly ii il were pos
bile 10 inform lnQulrers that copies OF
Ie statutes could be found in the libra.
es AZ Boston, New York. Chicago.
Milwaukee, san Francisco. aud other
ties What is true OF Hawaii in that
lrieular is also true Of Porto Rico"
Judge Pcnheld. solicitor Of the State
cplfimrut. said today thai no definite ;