The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-08

manner as is provided by law for the
counting of votes at an election. The
inspectors shall upon separate sheets
or blanks to be provided for that pur-
pose, make full and accurate returns
of the votes east and shall forthwith
send one thereof to the clerk of the
county where the primary is held: one
copy to the chairman of the central
committee of each party, and one copy
to the Secretary of the Territory. -
Senator Smith said that he did not
see anything revolutionary or danger
Gus in that particular provision, and
that it was not dependent upon any
thing in the election law bill Just pass
ed by the Senate.
Non-Partizan Status.
The first portion of Section IA of the
bill caused a discussion which brought
an amendment AS the paragraph
stood it read as follows:
1.-The person receiving the greatest
number of votes at primary as a can
didate of a party for Office shall be
the candidate of that party at the fol
lowing election, and any non-partizan
nominee receiving at least twenty per
cent of the total votes east at such
primary shall also be candidate at the
following election. -
Senator Baker raised the point that
the percentage requirement for the
non partizan aspirant was altogether
too high, and that it might actually
shut out man that would possess a
chance of election. Another criticism
was that the paragraph did not deal
with the question of more than one
candidate for collective office. Mr..
Robinson suggested by way of amend
ment that it be made to read so the
candidate for each ofice' receiving
the highest number of votes shall be
the nominee-the verbiage being
changed so as to make it clear that one
party could nominate the full number
of candidates necessary for a collect
i've body.
Section Dropped.
Senator Fairchild expressed consid-
cradle doubt as to whether Section II
of the bill could be enforced In the
course of its consideration it became
apparent that the bill was intended
to do two things at once-provide for
the direct primary and also assist in
the operation of distinctly party pro-
cedure.
The section states that sat least
sixty days before the date of a pri-
mary the central committee of each
party shall publish the territorial plat
form of such party in newspaper pub
ished in and of general circulation
throughout the Territory. The plat
form shall be published at least four
times before such primary election,
the date of the last publication to be
not less than seven days before such
primary election.
e AS soon as may be after the pub
LEGATION OF such platform the central
committee of each party shall send a
copy thereof signed by the secretary
or chairman of such committee to the
Secretary of the Territory, which copy
shall thereafter be the official copy of
the platform.
This provision was an infringement
on the preserves of party machinery
and management, was the view express
ed by both Mr.. Robinson and Senator
Fairehild. 1t meant a great deal more
than that to Senator Coelho. Since
Senate Bill No. 20, amending the liquor
law, was escorted to the block in the
House of Representatives, certain Sem
ators are inclined to look over their
shoulders when someone whispers
platform . in the legislative ear.
49, Numbered CoeIho, s'this real
ly means that If man goes to the Leg
islature and votes according to the die
tates of his conscience he can be ousted
from the party
Senator Smith questioned the wis
dom of a provision that referred so
obviously to party machinery and Mr.,
Robinson submitted the opinion tnat
such stipulation could not be made
mandatory or enforced under any cir
cumstanees. Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Whitney expressed similar view
Senator Fairchild called attention to
the necessity of avoiding the indorse
ment of anything that might be carried
through in the operation of the law
and could then be used to invalidate
an entire election by the party on the
losing end. The section quoted was
finally stricken out.
Coelho moved that a paragraph be
inserted in the bill stating that its
provision did not apply to the county
of Kalawao, but later withdrew the mo-
ton.
There was something approaching a
parliamentary muddle in the Senate
when it came time for the committee
of the whole to rise. The motion that
the committee. recommended that the
bill pass second reading as amended
was carried, but when it came to sub
hitting the verbal report by Chairman
Knudsen, President Smith suggested
that the proper course would be to
clay the report on the table to be con
sidered with the bill.'' Doubt was ex-
pressed whether a verbal report could
be laid on the table and President
Smith also insisted that the amended
bill was not before the Senate. A
motion to refer the bill to the Printing
Committee was finally carried, the re-
port to be presented later.
Bills Are Passed.
Senate Bill No. So, prohibiting the
organization Of military companies by
unauthorized persons, passed third read
ing with a full vote, as did Senate Bill
No. SO, prohibiting the wearing of uni
forms of the Army, Navy, or National
Guard by persons not entitled to do so.
An amendment, suggested by President
Smith, including the Public Health and
Marine HOSpital Service was inserted.