The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-17
And if So, Can the Legislature
Be Depended Upon to Garry
Out the Program?
a TENTATIVE BILL PREPARED
Amendments to Organic Act Are
of Greatest Importance
to the Territory.

Can the legislature be trusted to car
ry out the plans of theGovernor S
conference, or will it recommend some
thing which congress will not agree to?
That is the question that has been
most debated at the recent sessions of
the conference, and the answer has not
vet been found. Upon the answer de-
ponds whether or not special session
of the lawmakers will be called to
pass upon the proposed amendments to
the Organic Act.
Up to the present only Republicans
have had any part in the conference,
but it is probable that general con
ference will be held, possibly this
week, at which Democrats and Home
Rulers viii be present and the matter
of the land law amendments present
ed with a view to aseertaining what
is liable to be the attitude of the
legislature toward bill for the amend
ment of the Organic Act, which it is
proposed that Delegate Kuhio shall in
troduce in congress at the coming ses-
sion.
The amendments to the Organic Act
which are of most importance to the
people of this Territory, refer, of
course, to the land laws. There is no
/ opposition to the proposition that the
land laws must be amended. The only
question is as to how they should be
amended.
Tentative Bill Prepared.
A bill has been prepared by the con-
ference which it is proposed that Dele
gate Kubio shall introduce in congress.
This bill covers the minor amendments
to the Organic Act proposed, such as
raising the salaries of the Governor,
the secretary and legislature, and it
also covers the proposed changes in
the land laws of the Territory. 1t is
over the latter that hitch has oc-
CURED.
The land laws amendments, however,
are virtually what was proposed by the
Delegate in the bill he introduced in
congress last year. That is, power is
to be given to the legislature to amend
the land laws of the Territory. The
house of representatives of the legls-
lature at the last session endorsed this
bill. But that does not count for much,
inasmuch as the house also endorsed
the bill proposed by the Governor Civ
ing his excellency and an advisory
committee the power to make what
ever changes are thought necessary
in the land laws.
House Regarded Safe.
However. the conference is not
afraid of the house. 1t is considered
fairly certain that the lower legisla-
live body will stand by the confer
4nce in whatever action that latter
fakes. It is the senate that the con
ference is afraid of-and probably
with good reason, judging from the
attitude of the upper house at the
last session, when it refused to en-
dorse a bill which was practically the
same as the bill which, in the event
Of special session, will be submitted
to the Legislature for its approval.
The matter has already been pretty
thoroughly threshed out by the Repub-
Hcan conference, which has gone into
all the details. And now it is proposed
TO call in the other political parties
and put il up to them. in order to ind
out how they are liable to stand. II
1T appears that the new bill can OBJ
tain the endorsement of both houses
of the legislature. a special session will
undoubtedly be called. If there ap-
pears to be more than a reasonable
doubt as TO the favorable action of the
legislature. it is possible that the con
ference will bank on the action of the
lower house last session in endorsing
Kuhio's bill
The Delegates Bill.
It appears that the Delegate has IN
large part won out in the conference,
as the bill proposed by the dehberators
: very similar to the one he introduced
in congress, with some minor amend
ments as regards proposed changes IN
the land laws, and the addition OF pro
e3sjons allowing for an extension OF
power to the Territory in regard to
the refunding Of bonds.
But Governor Frear has the last say.
If the bill! as finally adopted by the
conference meets with his approal, and
if he believes that the legislature Is
liable to endorse it. he will probably
call a special session. If the chances
appear to be the other way, there will
be no special session.
Speaker Holstein Here.
When the conference adjourned Fri
Continued on Page Two)