The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-05
Continued from page 80

Mr. Grosvenor. I would not
Mr.. Robinson of Indiana. What par
ticular objection
Mr. Grosvenor. If 1 had nay, waS--
the gentleman asks my judgment about
it should not ratify this special char
ter at all. I would suggest for the
people of Hawaii to pass general act
authorizing the corporation and send 1t
here for our approval, and we VIII
amend it and fix it up so it will have
limitations and safeguards that we are
throwing around the corporations in the
other States. / would not turn over any
great industry of this character to an
unlimited and uncontrolled Hawaiian
corporation.
Mr.. Robinson of Indiana If the gen.
tleman will yield to me for a motion to
recommit-
Mr.. Grosvenor. / will not now. The
gentleman is running the whole ma
chine, apparently; now let me run it a
little while.
Mr. Thayer. 1 would like to ask the
gentleman for iIqfornation-I did not
have the pleasure of being with the
committee when this matter was con-
sidered-from the debate here it seems
to me that it is proper that this should
be recommitted, and what I want to
ask the gentleman, with his experience,
is this: / notice here in the organic
act it says:
The legislature shall not grant to
any corporation, association, or individ-
ual any special or exclusive privilege,
immunity, or franchise without the APP
prevail of Congress.
Now, suppose we could prepare bill
that we think would be acceptable to
the Eouse. would you advise that we
attempt that or simply refuse to vote
this and tell them to go back and them
selves produce an act which we could
approve?
Mr.. Grosvenor. AS the gentleman
has frankly asked the question, mas
much as there seems to be a necessity
for early action upon the question,
think I should pass an act such as L
would be willing to ratify and approve.
Mr.. Thayer. We seem to have no
power-we have power to approve
whatever they do, but can we do that?
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee. Certainly
we can. Congress has power to legis-
late for any and all our Territories
We can also repeal in whole or in part
any law these Territorial legislatures
enact. We can approve or nullify. No
trouble about this. It is simply ques-
ton of policy, not power.
Mr.. Grosvenor. The gentleman from
Michigan asked me to yield him time to
make a motion-that 1 yield five min
utes. 1 yield back the time. !!
Mr. Lilley. 1 just want to make this
point: The gentleman from Indiana
(Mr. ROBINSON remarked that Hawaii
had very few friends in this House 1
certainly think that her friends here
would be very few if they allowed this
bill to go. Certainly we should not be
friends to the people who buy electricity
at 20 cents per llilowatt hour for thirty
five years if we did So
Mr. Burleson. Will the gentleman
permit question?
Mr.. Lilley. Yes, sir. /
Mr.. Burleson. Are you a member of
the Committee on the Territories?
Mr. Lillay. Yes, sir
Mr. Burleson. Did you make any adj
verse report on this bill?
Mr.. Lilley No, I did not.
Mr.. Burleson. Why did you not do
L?
Mr.. Lilley. I did not know that the
bill Nas coming up.
Mr.. Burleson Why did you not know
t was coming up?
Mr.. I.illey. I should have been back
Monday, but was delayed a couple of
laws in court on my way, and l had
hot the slightest idea that this bill was
coming up.
Mr.. Grosvenor. It is fair to the gem
lannan to state that that statement was
made on yesterday.
Mr.. Lilley. If I had had any idea
whatever that this bill was to be in
reduced or discussed today l should
rave been here earlier. 1 just arrived
n Washington, and I knew nothing of
+ till / came on the floor and it was
,nder discussion.