The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-05

The original charter, it seems, was
one granted by the old royal Govern
| rnent, and, as we inherited this and
other monarchical laws when we an
nexed that Territory. they are stin the
laws of Hawaii, except where they have
been repealed or are prohibited by the
| Constitution OF the United States,
| Congress may. as we have the power in
| law. ratify or nuIlify what the local
| government does in and for Hawaii
| This is old law. I agree with my friend
| from Indiana (Hdr. Robinson) that we
| should allow and maintain home rule
| there as wen as here, and wherever our
| flag floats, as far as that is concerned:
but even in our own local, home-ruled
| governments we often enact vicious
| laws. We are all finite at best.
| 1t seems the Hawaiian legislature
| has sent us this measure that does not
meet with the approval of the chair
man of the Committee on Ways. and
| Means (AIr. Payne). 1t does not meet
with the approval of the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. GrosvenoT), and there
| seems TO be considerable contention
about it among the members OF the
Committee on Territories. while there
are reasonable wise. and natural objec-
lions from some of the Hawaiian peo-
pie.
The gentleman from Indiana (Adr.
Robinson) says, in effect. that the rea-
son why the ten-year limit was chang
ed to thirty-five years was because of
one hard-headed Juror-cne man out of
twelve, so to speak-one member of the
committee objected. He ruled the other
eleven jurors. Is that man present in
the House? He surely is Member. /
-. g..
If not, where is he? Why is he not
here? Where is that dissenting man?
Where is that gifted and powerful
man? Why is he not here to tell US
the story of his life or the story of the
Hawaiian people who are about to be
plunged into utter darkness if we de-
feat this bill?
Where is this man, ask? What are
his reasons, I repeat? The gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Robinson), whose
heart is always right, if not his head,
can not tell US why it is that he agrees
to the thirty-fve-year limit as against
ten years-at least, he has not done
SO. If he has, I have not heard him.
want him or any Member to answer my
questions. I have not heard this mat
ter explained. Some have heard a good
deal of reading from report, but no.
body has been able to discover yet that
dissenting Member of the committee or
his reasons for this change. If he is on
the floor. or can be found, or if he
may be brought into this Chamber and
invited to give his reasons, should be
very glad even now to hear them.
1 am willing to yield to him the bal |
ance of my time, and if I have not time |
enough I hope some one viii yield it to |
m W hat /
one man who has controlled the whole |
committee and is now about to control |
this House, and let him tell us why |
the change is made by the committee |
from ten years, a limit, it seems to /
me, in this day and time that is wise, |
and surely more so than the unwise and /
proposition OF thirty-five
years. (Applause.)
Mr.. LiIley. Mr.. Speaker, I yield back
he remainder of my time. -
Mr.. Robinson of Indiana. / novel
hat the bill be recommitted to the COM
nittee.
Mr.. Hamilton. 1 suggest to the gen.
tleman whether the motion ought not
20 be amended so as to instruct the
committee to report substitute?
Mr.. Grosvenor. Mr.. Speaker, if the
gentleman will allow me, think it bet
.er to let it go to the committee with
out any limitation upon it's discretion.
Mr.. Robinson of Indiana. That gives
is full power over the subject.
Mr.. Hamilton. Very WE'LL
The Speaker The gentleman from
Indiana Ont. Robinson) moves to re-
commit this bill to the Committee on
he Territories.
The motion was agreed to.
The Speaker The Clerk will call the |
lext committee.
The Clerk resumed and completed the
call of committees.