The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-04-21
HAWAIIAN BILLS
BEFORE CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 5.-The
legislative interests of Hawaii in Con-
gress are eentering just at present
chiefly IN the bin for the Improvement
OF Pearl Harbor. Before this letter
reaches Honolulu the news of the
enactment Of that bill into law, as
suriug an immediate appropriation of
s550.ul-0 on a total project of 100000,
NAV have been conveyed there by
cable.
Representative Bates, of Rennsylva-
ma. expects 10 call the bill up in the
House tomorrow (Monday) under sus-
pension Of the rules This has been
arranged. after consultation with
Speaker Cannon and Chairman Tawney,
Of the appropriations committee. 1t
Was AZ their suggestion that the bill, as
repor-ed from the Naval Affairs Com
rniftee. was modified so that the lmme-
date appropriation TO be called for,
would lie reduced from S1OO,OOO to
S650O00. The reduction will be chiefly
in the cost OF the machine and repair
shoyis that are proposed
Il is hoped that Mr. Bates will get
1he biu through tomorrow, as its pass
ace liz the House at this time would
-r.-sc-5eauv assure its becoming law
~ TINS session Of Congress. But under
SUSPENSION Of the rules bill must have
q rvo-fhirds vote to pass. The Dem
.,erars are IN an exceedingly ugly mood,
because Of q determined filibuster they
fuaucurated some DAYS ago, nOminally
u force the Republicans to pass certain
Of -he measures the President has re-
commended. Minority Leader John
Sha Williams is always opposed to
Hawaii and will probably oppose the
Pearl Harbor bll both on principle and
- a part Of his filibustering program.
REPRESENTATIVE Champ Clark, of Mis-
s1uri. and Bourke Cochran, of New
York. and all Democrats on the House
navy committee favor the Pearl Harbor
HiI And vet it remains a question
whether OF not Mr.. Williams may not
muster enough Democrats to make more
than one-1hird Of the House.
II the bin can not be gotten up
tomorrow or if II fails of a two-thirds
vote il VIII probably be brought in later
under a special rule. The Speaker does
not ike 70 grant special rules for leg
islatiou. when 1t can be avoided, but is I,
willing 10 do so In this ease if 1t should |
become necessary. Senator Perkins has /
already given notice in the Senate that |
be- viii offer the Pearl Harbor bill there
Is an amendment to the navy apprO-
rriarion bill which the House has not
taken up vet because of the investiga-
tidu Of the Electric boat company and
zhe purchase Of submarines for the
navy. which investigation is still under
way but VIII probably be concluded
this week
An other Hawaiian measures are rest
ing on their little shelves and will
hardly be taken off for the present.
The bin. extending the term of land
leases in Hawaii TO fifteen years, got
through 5ust in time. 1t was passed
l.v rhe Senate and sent to the President
ius- about the time the House Demo
Gratis began refusing unanimous con-
SCENTS No one Is thinking of trying to
bring the immigration bill or the bill
10 amend the eoastwise shipping laws
into the House Just now. Probably
neither measure could command a two
thirds majority. which would be re-
Quired under a suspension of the rules, !
and ID would be useless to seek to get
1 ,
Indeed the probability still holds that
the coasrwise shipping amendment may
nor Dc necessary. Things are locking
wen for the mail subvention bill, which ,
has PASSED the Senate and which the .
House postofiees committee expects ,
b. vote on next Tuesday. The friends J
q the measure are quite confident of ;
securing lis passage in the House be
fore tins session Is over. A vast deal
VI work has been done to overcome the Y
opposition Of middle Western Republi- :
cans and some Of this work has been I
effective. As was stated in letters to
the Advertiser several weeks ago. the
prospects are that the Senate viii put \
the mail Subsidy provision, which would !
assure additional lines on the Pacific :
past Honolulu. as a rider on the post =
-flee approximation bill Senator Pen
rose. the chairman of the Postoffice :,
'rumittee. has been III in Philadelphia !,
.H- some time and the Senate commit II
es probably viii not take up the post i
1Hee lil for a couple of weeks. g
a little work Is being done in com \
llrree--or Hswaiian measures. Two y
.eariuEs have been given by the Ter D
-lt1rieS Committee on the bill to in
.-case the salaries Of territorial judges Il
-E ~ the territorial governor. There "
S no Indication apparently as to what +,
IN. committee viii decide to do with Q,
bin OF whether it is likely to get h
.-are the House at this session. There n
las been no report vet on the bill to W
raa-e an additional territorial judge
mp II II passes It Is understood here =
bar District Attorney Breckons might
Ee the appointment.
The Notifications appropriations bill
chains as heretofore. since it passed
De House II Is altogether probable at
bar the Senate viii adopt all the items IN
reetIuE Hawaii, approximately as they po
s-e adopted by the House. ~ ~
Collector Of Customs Stackable was Sd
nominated by the President a few 60
avs ago and his nomination is now ",
et1-e the Senate. He will be con-
-uel iu short order. an
ERNEST G. WALKER. pa