The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-03-14
JOE
IN CONTROL
Continued from mage one.

may return for a day or two
their main work is done
Great credit is due the delegation for
the excellent and carefully planned
work they have done for the Revenue
measure. Their efforts have been
earnest and harmonious, and the ideas
of individual members have been sub
ordinated to the majority decision
The delegation, as a whole, has made
a good impression ON the members they
have met and before whom they have
appeared; and what is equally import
ant they have made no serious breaks.
The sum results, up to the present
are apparently as follows: a majority
of the House committee are individually
favorable to my bill with an amend
m.nt to reduce the term to ten years;
a large number of individual members
and Senators have also expressed their
favor Of our measure, including some
influential members. on tn. other
hand. the Democratuc floor leader is
strongly against it, and Mr.. Payne is
also unfriendly. Most serious of all,
the Speaker of the House. has so far
that although the subcommittee hay
ing the bill in charge, are all in favor
of it, except Mr. Lloyd, the Democratic
whip, they have withheld all report on
it. until some more favorable attitude
can be secured ON the part of the
speaker.
This is a clear example of the alb
-
to block any given piece of legislation
on the floor of the house, but also to
prevent report being made on a bill
that he may think best to hold up.
All committee chairmen are his lieu
tenants and only in exceptional cases
will they bring out a bill that he is
known to disapprove.
AS son as it became apparent that
our future centered largely in the
Speakers room we at once directed all
our forces to that point.
The president was appraised of the
situation, and he informed me, on
Monday that he had written a strong
letter direct to the speaker on the sub
iect Both Mr.. Hamilton and Mr.
Cole talked with the speaker, and w.
10. Smith who is well and favorably
known to Mr.. Cannon, has talked with
him twice on the subject
Most important of all, Col. Hepburn
labored with "Uncle Joe" for three
quarters of an hour on Saturday last;
for 1 agree with a well known con-
fidential official of the House, who said
! g. ~
burn can, i'm a matter of this sort,
come nearer to winning over the
| Speaker, than even the President can
| do.
| The hopeful sign so far is, that the
| Speaker has not positively set himself
against the bill, but has promised to
think it over. Meantime for a few
days we can do nothing, as any at
tempt to hurry Uncle Joe" might lead
to his final word against it.
While much encouragement has been
met from many m mbers, the work has
not been without some very discourage
ing features. The delegation left with
the growing impression that the oppo-
sitiOn of some members was based on
"knocking" letters received from Ha-
wall.
The defeat of the Philippine bill is
also likely to make permanent the OPP
position of Mr., Payne and other House
leaders, who strongly championed that
measure
The final defeat of the Philippine bill
reflects much credit on Mr.. Hatch and
the other able fighters who opposed
| its passage. 1t ought to demonstrate
clearly to everyone that legislation in
Congress cannot be secured merely by
the recommendation or even the most
earnest efforts of the President.
In this case, the Philippine bill was
made a direct administration measure,
and all of the Pre- sdent's influence was
eXerted at every stage. Secretary Taft,
| besides taking a ship load of congress
men to the Philippines for this purpose
has devoted weeks of personal effort to
| the hearings, Both the committee
chairmen We're partisans of the bill;
and yet it has failed of passage.
In the face of such facts, it need not
be a matter of surprise if our revenue
bill fails of passage lat this session.
Yet we are determined to leave no
stone unturned to bring such influence
to bear through our friends i'm the house
as may yet bring us success for this
bill in spite of the objections to it, as
special legislation.
The dinner given to the Kansas dele
cation last week in the name of Mr.
Case and Mr.. Mcclellan, who are for
mer Kansans, proved an excellent OPP
portunity to make new friends for oul
bill and for Hawaii. The Kansas mem
bers, after listening to the main facts
presented, expressed themselves strong,
ly in favor of our bill, and at least one
of them has since personally urged its
passage, to Speaker Cannon.
The $4,000 for quarantine island, has
now been appropriated and is made
Immediately available.
I am today sending to members Of
the Committee on Territories and t.