The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-03-05
ENABLING ACT
FOR PAY OF
LABOR
From Wednesdays AdvertiserJ

Appearing before the Senate sitting
As committee of the whole, Governor
Frear yesterday morning enlightened
the members of the upper house on the
objects of the proposed amendments to
the Organic Act, embodied in bin that
is now pending before Congress at
Washington. The Governor explained
at length the intention of the amend
ments recommended in dealing with the
land laws. He was asked few questions
bv the Senators and in every case his
reply apparently satisfied the inquirer
of the wisdom of the idea in the amend.
ment then under consideration.
Governor Frear appeared before the
Senate In response 10 an invitation ex-
tended to him last week when it was
decided to take up the Coelho resolu-
tion-denouncing the Organic Act
amendment bill-in the committee of
the whole. The Senate went ahead
with the consideration of the resolution
introduced by Coelho despite the fact
that they have already gone officially
on record as favoring the adoption of
the amendment bill through passing
House Concurrent Resolution No. 2, in
troduced by G. 7. Alfonso.
Governor Frear declared that he con
sidered in its entirety the bill would
give much additional power to the
Legislature and, except in one or two
cases, would not take any of the exist
ing authority from the Legislative
body Governor Frear dwelt on the
necessity of putting an end to the
doubt that surrounds several provisions
of the Organic Act, and particularly
whether the Organic Act is supreme
over the general territorial laws of the
United States. The Governor gave 1T
as his opinion that it is and that the
evident intention of Congress was to
give Hawaii n separate and distinct law
and that the existing territorial statutes
applied generally but are in no way
inclusive as far as Hawaii is concerned.
Another amendment upon which the
Governor laid great emphasis was the
amendment allowing the Chief EXecu-,
tive of the Territory the power to dis.
miss an appointive officer without con-
firmation of his action by the Senate.
He declared that such was the rule in
nearly all the States and could not but
be considered as a measure for the Pub
lie good.
Two bills were passed by the Senate
yesterday. The first measure that re-
ceived the final Endorsement of the Sen
ate was the bill providing for re.
organization of the Board of Commits
sioners of the Department of Public In
struction on the basis of island repre-
sentation. All the Senators voted for
the act with the exception of President
Smith who voiced an emphatic ''no"
when his name was called by the clerk.
The substitute divorce bill introduc-
ed by the Committee on judiciary pass
ed its third reading and is ready for
action by the House. The measure
makes several changes in the existing
law, the most important of which is
the period of thirty days elapsing after
the filing of the complaint before court
proceedings can be held.
The members of the Senate are look.
ing askance at the bill for the indis.
crminate amendment of the existing
liquor law. 1t is plain that the senti'
ment of the Senate does not favor
tampering with the existing law on
the subject.
Yesterday morning in the House al