The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-11-04
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category of emergency. Young men
were deprived of their constitutional
right of voting by one law he sought
to have amended. Small dealers in
fish and even the women selling flow
ers on the street corner in Honolulu
were liable to arrest today unless
the merchandise license law. In loud
and impassioned tones, proclaiming
himself a Republican, he appealed to
his colleagues and to the president
by name not to obstruct the measures
of needed relief for various classes
of the people.
Quinn again asked for a ruling be-
fore going ahead.
Chillingworth thought Coelho was
correct in his legal contention, but
the question with him was whether
it was good policy to take up other
legislation than that for which they
had convened. He felt much sym,
pathy with Coelho, who was one Of
the hardest working members of the
Senate. Some of his bills were very
desirable, but it was for the Senate
to decide whether it was good policy
to take them up now. He concluded
by moving:
"That it is the sense of the Senate
that no subject matter foreign to the
object for which this session has
been called shall be considered"
Coelho said that if this were adopt
ed even the bills appropriating leg
islative expenses would be illegal.
Mccarthy stated his opposition to
taking up foreign matter.
Baker agreed with Chillingworth
that it was up to the Senate as a
matter of policy Except for emer.
gency he did not think it proper to
go into subjects outside of the call
Some of Coelho's bills were of an
emergency nature, the speaker giving
instances of hardships that they
would avoid.
Robinson did not think it right to
raise the question now, or bring in
a motion to quash everything of a
general character already done The
resolution should have been introduc-
ed at the opening of the session.
Knudsen, asked by the chair for
his opinion, said he believed If a bill
contained matter of emergency and
the Governor signed it, it would be
legal. He agreed that 1t was a ques-
ton of policy. It was not fair to in
troduce general legislation when
some members were absent in Europe
and on the Coast He Thought 10
would be wise policy to refrain from
general legislation. Some of the laws
proposed to be amended had been in
force but few months and there had
not been time to see how they were
working. He believed he could give
ruling in favor of the regalify of
admitting general legislation, yet
would vote against taking up mat
tiers of that character.
Coelho in closing said the matter
should have been brought up on the
first day. He heartily agreed with
the sentiment that there should be a
limit, and on introducing his string
of bills the first day he announced
that he would have no more On the
other hand the Senate had the pow
er, as exercised sometimes at regular
sessions, Of setting day beyond
which no new measures should be in
troduced. It could have taken such
action at the outset, as it could have
decided the present question but did
not. Moreover the passage of his
bills would not cost the Territory one
extra cent.
President Smith suggested a recess
until two O'clock to give members
time to investigate the question. This
was on motion adopted and the SEN
ate rose at 1920.