The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-02-20
HAWAIIAN MATTERS
BEFORE CONGRESS
CONTINUED from page one).

be ample, and that they would disap-
prove the proposed bill II IT were re-
ferred to them, l declined to introduce
u bill for that amount. Mr.. Butler of
Pennsylvania was then asked to in
troduce the bill which was referred tc
the committee on territories on Fri
day last we had a hearing on Mr. But
ler's bill, which had been referred to
the Treasury Department Assistant
Secretary Taylor in reporting on the
same, showed that an appropriation of
twenty thousand dollars would be suf-
ficient for the purpose, allowing a price
of ten cents a cubic yard for the ma
terial deposited on the island, and al
lowing four thousand dollars for the
construction of wers and retaining
walls Lieutenant Slattery had also
reported to the same effect and that
letter was presented i'm the committee
hearing. The committee accordingly
decided to frame a new bill fer this pur-
pose apprOpriating twenty thousand
dollars, to be Immediately available
and to be expended under the War De-
partment That bill was introduce
by Governor Powers of the Territories
Committee, on Saturday last. 1t was
! today brought up for consideration and
after a brief statement in regard to
it, was reported favorably by the com
mittee on Territories.
The committee on elections Number
| have not yet made their formal re-
| port to the House, but l have been
! personally advised by the chairman
that my right to sit in this congress
will be sustained by the vote of the en-
] tire committee, with the possible excep-
| ion of one member. 1t is expected
that the Committees report will disal-
low az of the five thousand or more
ballots which were cast with numbers
on the same, and that my election is
! sustained upon the majority of unques-
toned ballots that were cast without
any numbers upon them. The commit
tee will also recommend that legisla-
tion be enacted which shall provide in
full for the election of Delegate from
Hawaii.
In order to further, if possible, favor
able action on my bills for public build
ings at Honolulu and Hilo. l have ask
ed Senator Warren TO introduce dupli-
Gates of my House bills i'm the Senate,
and the same has been done by him.
These bills were at once referred to the
Supervising Architect of the Treasury
Department. and on Saturday last !
visited the Treasury Department to Sc
cure the promise of prompt reports on
both OF these bills, which will probably
have a hearing before the Senate Com
nittce in Public Buildings within the
EeXt ten days.
As the question of Public Buildings
is entirely non-partisan. it is possible
that after the delegation has completed
its work on the revenue bill, two OF
three Of them may appear at the COM
luittee hearing on these public building
bills.
As | stated in my last letter. we
have been in frequent communication
with Col. Hepburn and Chairman Taw
ney. trying to frame a bill for the ap-
propriations committee in such form
that it VIII legitimately be a part OF
the Sundry Civil Bill, and also, if pos
sible carry our revenue proviso in such
form that it would not go out on a
point of order made on the floor of the
House when the Sundry Civil Bill is
put upon its passage. The appropria-
tion of two hundred thousand dollars
to complete the authorized contract
upon Honolulu Harbor has been de-
cided upon as exactly fitting the case
being an item already authorized by
Congress and regularly belonging ia
the Sundry Civil Bill. 1 have accord
ingly drafted a bill appropriating this
sum; have next included a proviso fOl
a Hawaiian fund in the Treasury; and
thirdly have provided that the two hun
dred thousand dollars authorized be
paid out of this fund so established.
This bill has the approval of Chairman
Tawney, Col. Hepburn and the entire
delegation. It's provisions, while spe-
officially referring chiefly to Federal
purposes, yet admit of the appropria-
tion by Congress of any part of this
fund for education buildings and public
works of a general nature within the
Territory, so far as Congress sees fit
to appropriate from time to time. 1t
was agreed by all here that it would
be wholly unwise to make a request
that this fund should Be expended in
any other manner than by appropTia-
lions of the congress. 1t is not at all
certain that the prOviso can be put i'm
any form that will not leave it sub
iect to a point of order, and it may
be necessary for us to take that chance
Chairman Tawney insists that the
original bill was properly referred to
the committee on Territories, involving
as 1t does, chiefly a question Of policy
which that Committee should handle
He further advises that even though
the Appropriations Committee should
be willing to admit this legislation as
an item on the Sundry Civil Bill, it
should nevertheless be passed upon by
a legislative committee as contrasted
with the limited functions of his own
} committee on appropriations. | have
accordingly today introduced a new
bill, and had the same referred to the
committee on territories which en-