The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-12-11

coastwise Shipping laws to Hawaii is
receiving his earnest consideration; and
Whereas, Hon. Walter i. Frear,
Governor of the Territory of Hawaii,
who thoroughly understands local con-
ditions, is now in Washington; be it
Resolved, That cablegram be sent
to Governor Frear, requesting him upon
receipt of the communications recently
forwarded by the local commercial
bodies to take the matter up with the
Delegate and other friends of Hawaii
| Mt Washington and to take such action
as he may determine to be for the best
interests of Hawaii. -
Fearful of Consequences.
Il. d. Tenney spoke strongly against
the motion and presented an amend
ment to it to the effect that the Cham
Der reatfirms its action of the last meet
ing. He said, in part:
"When the resolution was brought
into this Chamber on March IL last to
support this bill, / voted for the reso-
luton. But, i am free to confess that
l voted at that time without due and
careful consideration of the question
involved. | have been sorry for that
vote almost ever since. At the risk of
being considered mercenary in my pres
ent opposition, | will state briefly the
reasons for my change of views. 1t is
not because ! am interested in the Mat
son Navigation Company, because our
interest in American shipping is less
today than it was when / supported
the first resolution.
90 But we have asked, and some of the
m m &c -
ing, for special legislation excluding
Hawaii from the application of law
national in its scope and applying to
every other citizen of the United
States.
- We form Territory of the United
States with all the rights and privi-
leges of any portion of the United
States. We are asking now for priv
iIege that other citizens have not got.
Now, If it is practicable to enact this
exemption of Hawaii from the general
law, 1T is practicable to 90 much fur.
Their. II will be practicable to cancel the
Organic Act and to make of us col.
Gay, an insular possession, such as the
Philippines, and against us then, as
against the Philippines now, it will be
possible to levy a duty on our goods
entering the United States"
Mr.. Tenney then quoted from the
PRESIDENTS message and also read the
leading editorial from the Advertiser
Of yesterday, emphasizing that portion
OF the editorial which referred to the
desire of some to make the contract
labor law imperative in Hawaii.
- wish to say that /, for one, am
not IN favor of the abrogation of that
law in favor of Hawaii,n continued
Mr.. Tenney. 60 am not in favor of
any special legislation for the Terri.
tory of Hawaii that confers special
favors on us that the rest of the country
IS prohibited from having. Regarding
the argument of the disadvantage we
are in in regard to Cuba and Tahiti.
perhaps we are in disadvantage az
regards travel, but they don Il ask that
Cuba and Tahiti be placed on parity
with us in regard to trade.
1.-The law is paving the way to a
change IN our status to that of an
insular possession. If this law is pass.
ed IT opens the way for every hayseed
member of Congress with a hobby to
to ask for special legislation to apply
to Hawaii with his freak ideas EN-.
bodied in it. When we are in the
position of an insular possession we will
get such legislation passed for us good
and plenty. We got some of the freak
ideas in our Organic Act and they have
been very bothersome.
"We are asking for special privileges
for ourselves regarding steamship ac.
commodations at the expense of large
interests in the United States who are
now receiving protection on their bust.
ness, the same protection principle we
are now enjoying in these Islands. We
are saying; Hit the other fellow, but
be careful not to hit the place where