The Hawaiian star., 1910-03-15
The ORGANIC ACT
DEBATE IN SENATE

vast majority of States the compen-
sation is per diem of SO to SO, max
ing in sixty days from $3.50 to $3.50
as the total pay for the members OF
the legislatures in the States. Most
of the States give the same mileage
of 10 cents per mile Of travel. New
Hampshire and New Jersey give no
mileage, and in the latter State the
legislators are allowed to travel on
passes. We propose here to pay the
members of the legislature of that
Territory $1,000 each for every ses-
sion of the legislature. This is an
enormous increase of expense fast
ened upon that Territory, and, Mr..
President,it seems we are tending
too much in that direction these days,
We ought to hesitate before we en-
courage this marked tendency to ex-
travagance in the administration ot
governmental affairs. Jefferson al
lowed $3,000,000 as a sum sufficient
to pay the expenses OF conduct
ing this government for one year.
We have just heard it authoritative
ly stated on this floor that we are
today wasting from S1OO,O0O,O0O TO
$300,00O,000 in the administration Of
this government. In other words
we are today spending S3OO,00O,00O
where Jefferson calculated to spend
only $1,OOO,OOO in conducting the at.
fairs of this government We have
made tremendous advance; we have
prospered beyond all estimates or
Imagination even. But l submit We
have not advanced in any such pro
portion as that. We are wasting to.
day $1OO,O0O,OOO where we required
in Jefferson's day $1,OOO,OO0 as neces
sary operating expenses of the gov
ernment. This same sort of ten.
Aency we see cropping out in every
direction, and here it is proposed tC
raise the pay of the legislators OF
the Territory of Hawaii $500 for each
member every time the legislature
meets.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Section is an important portion
of the bill. 1t rather limits than
enlarges the power now existing IN
the officers of the Territory with re-
ference to public lands. 1t may be
a question whether Congress ought
to have turned over to the Territory
the entire jurisdiction and control OF
public lands amounting to some 1,790,
900 acres, but that has been done
and the present land commissioner
of the Territory has practically pIen
airy powers with reference to all these
public lands. This provision is rath
er a limitation upon his power, SUB
jects it to some control and supervl
sion, and rather divides the respon
sibility between him and the COVER
nor, and in some instances among
him, the governor and the legislative
authority. So that I am inclined tc
agree that that section is the most
important section in he bill and ccI~
ries a very valuable and important
piece of legislation for the benefit OF
the Territory
Section 6, likewise, is without OBJ
lection, There can be no criticism
it seems to me, of the provisions
there disqualifying judges and jurors
in certain instances therein named
l refer to the section itself, without
taking the time of the Senate to dis
cuss it in detail. 1t speaks for IT.
self, and accompanying the bill is the
report of the committee which is fur
ther explanatory.
OTHER SALARY INCREASES.
Section 8, however, is subject 20
very grave criticism, l think, and
ought not to be adopted by Congress
For the same reason, signifed in dis
cussing section we must certainly
hesitate before voting this great in.
crease in the salaries of the officers
of the Territory. The people are 10
furnish this money. and they are al
ready beginning to inquire in this
country whether or not government
is not getting to be a very great lux
ury to them. They are beginning
already to suggest the question whe
ther they are getting enough out OF
the government to warrant the enor
nous amount they are paying for It.
1t is proposed in this section to
increase the Governors salary from
$4,000 to $4,000 per annupm. 1t Is
proposed to increase the salary of tho
secretary of state from $4,000 to S.,