The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-01-01
HAWAII At
WASHINGTON
Lawyers Hatch and
Lewis Before
Congress.
Mail Special to the Advertiser

the efforts of Hawaiian people here
during the last five days have been de-
voted to getting Senators and members
of Congress interested in pending leg
islation, especially the bill to conf1rm
the county act and the bill to confirm
the electric franchise, in Honolulu. Mr..
F. M. Hatch is still in town looking
after the former measure; Mr.. a.
Lewis, Jr.; is here looking after the
latter measure. Both bills have been
introduced in both branches of Con-
gress. Both have been given hearing
before each of the committees that have
Hawaiian matters in charge.
Yesterday there was a general hear
ing before the House Committee Oh
Territories. In that connection 1t Is
interesting to add that Delegate Kala-
nianaole has been made a member OF
the Territories Committee. This was at
the request of Chairman Hamilton,
who desired to have the delegate there
to answer questions and present the
Hawaiian side of Hawaiian matters
which come up for action. Uncle joe
Cannon was adverse at first. my
boy" said he Hamilton has too large
a committee already. 1t won't do"
"But he told me to come and ask you
to put me on that committee" protest.
ed the Hawaiian Delegate.
"All right replied Uncle joe" Il
will put you on"
The committee now has nineteen
members. as all the territorial delegates
have been added to it's membership but
they have no vote in committee. They
can only look after the interests of their
constituents there.
THE HEARING IN COMMITTEE.
At yesterdays hearing the time was
chiefly divided between Mr.. Hatch and
Mr.. Lewis. No objections were present.
ed to either bill but the members pres
ent asked large number of questions.
and the local situation was fully ex-
planned. Mr.. Lewis followed the out
line of a statement, which has been
printed by request of Senator Foraker
concerning the case of the Hawaiian
Electric Company, Limited, which Is
seeking the renewal of it's franchise.
After the hearing Mr.. Lewis's BILL
which has been introduced in the House
by the Hawaiian Delegate and in the
Senate by Mr.. Foraker. was referred to
n subcommittee, consisting of Chair
man Hamilton, Ex-Gov. Powers, Of
Maine, and Representative Robinson, of
Indiana, the last named being the Dem
ocratic member III the subcommittee.
These are all good friends of Hawaii
and a favorable report. is looked for
speedily.
The ratification of the county bill was
referred to a subcommittee consisting
of Representatives Spalding, of North
Dakota, Sterling, of Illinois, and Lloyd,
of Missouri, the last named being the
Democrat. Some hearings before the
subcommittee followed in which fur
Their details of the measures We're eX-
planned.
This morning the same gentlemen ap-
peared before the Committee on Pacific
Islands of the Senate, in which vii-
tually the same program was followed.
Mr.. Hatch and Mr.. Lewis We're heard
in behalf of their respective bills. The
Senators of the committee eVinced an
interest in the measures and there Is
reason to believe that Mr.. Lewis's bill,
at least, will be favorably acted upon.
If there is to be any serious opposi-
ton, it has not yet developed.
AMENDMENT TO ORGANIC ACT.
Representative Robinson has intro
Tie loio"ih6 NhiNh "'s'
referred to the Committee on Terri
tories:
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives OF the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, That section seventy-six of an
Act entitled AN Act to provide gov
eminent for the Territory of Hawaii
approved April thirtieth, nineteen hun
~ to, hn- AhNr
amended to read as follows:
'Sec. rs. That there shall be n SUI
perintendent of public instruction, who
shall have the powers and perform the
duties conferred upon and required Of
the minister of public instruction by
the laws of Hawaii as amended by the
Act, and subject to modification by the
legislature.
TT shall be the duty of the United
States Commissioner of Labor to col
lect. assert, arrange, and present in re-
ports in 1905, and every five years
thereafter, statistical details relating to
all departments of labor in the Ter
ritory of Hawaii, especially in rela-
tion to the commercial industrial, So
cial. educational, and sanitary condi-
ton of the laboring classes, and TO all
such other subjects as. Congress may
by law direct. The said Commissioner
is especially charged to ascertain the
highest. lowest and average number Of
employees engaged in the various in
dustries in the Territory, to be classl-
fled as to nativity, sex, hours of labor,
and conditions of employment, and TO
report the same to Congress"
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
The debates on the Cuban reciprocity
bill. which came to an end yesterday,
eontafped numerouS, references to, the
sugar proouc. OF Hawaii. The debates.
as matter of fact, had vast dea,
about sugar production in general ana
Senators ransacked the different bu-
reaus of the government, where statis-
ties about sugar could be found, to get
material to weave into their speeches.
1t Is Expected that President Rodse-
Welt will sign the bill at once, per-
hans today DR. tomorrow and that II will