Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-03-15

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under the Organic Act; and wheth-
er. further, under Abe practically
unbroken line OF tradition and Gus
tom with regard to the use of the
powers of Congress to legislato for
Territories, It is fair and Just In
this case to impose this legislation
on the Territory OF Hawaii.
This is not primarily a question
OF whether or not there are evils OF
intemperance in the Territory Of He
wall. That there are evils Of In
temperance Is very evident.
I have Travelled in every State
and Territory OF the United States,
save two. and have never found a
State. whether 1t was a prohibition
State or one in which there was a
very liberal provision for the sale
Of liquors. in which there were not |
1 evils of intemperance. Therefore,
any general argument as to the
evils OF intemperance Is not. in IT.
I self, any reason for the imposition
Of legislation Of this sort by the
Congress, over the actions OF Ter
ritory which has power to regulate
that matter now under the law.
That the United States Congress
has power to impose such a law Is
certainly no reas6i why IT should
exercise that power. I might call
the attention of the Senator from
Kansas and of the gentlemen who
have cited their reasons on the other
side to the fact that during the days
OF the Territorial government OF
Kansas the Congress had power to
impose law establishing slavery
there; but my ancestors. both my
father and my grandfather. were OF
those who labored there to oppose
slavery; and my grandfather gave
his life for that cause. The mere
fact that Congress has power to do
a thing is. In itself. certainly no
reason why It should do the thing.
That this power should, be reserved
In Congress is a necessary fact. Con-
sress, In passing many clnsses OF leg
islation Tin passing, for example,
bills to give a company the right to
construct bridge across a navigable
stream). usually specifically states
that It reserves the right to alter!
amend. or repeal that act; but am
not aware that that right has ever
been exercised. Congress has the
power to pass Interstate commerce
laws, restricting absolutely the
transmission of liquors from one
State into another, but I am not
aware that that power has been ex-
ercised, at least In the case OF any
State, which has not itself prohibit
ed the sale of liquor. Congress has
the power to repeal the present Ha-
waiian liquor law and to make the
sale Of liquor there wholly free and
UNRESTRICTED; but It would be
gross breach of the right Of our
Territory to administer Its own do
nestle AFFAIRS. So e.
Now, with respect TO the question
whether this legislation should be I'm.
posed. want to reiterate, the fact
that the evils Of intenlperauce' being
In evidence In Hawaii Is not In itself
a sufficient reason for Confress to
|. step In and withdraw certain powers
OF local administration. such as have
been given to the Territory unless
there Is a particular reason and cause
shown. fi+
The prohibition law OF Kansas has
been referred to here today, and Mr..
Woolley lays considerable stress upon
the fact that this law IL. desirable in
order to keep liquor away from the
soldiers who are located In Hawaii
: AS native son OF the State of Kansas
l am somewhat familiar with the con
ditions in that so-called prohibition
State. and think the distinguished
: Senator from Kansas. and anybody
who knows the conditions there, will
: admit that as to two of the largest
military camps which this, Govern.
ment has, at Fort Riley and Fort Leav.
enworth, In both of the adjacent cities
liquor is openly sold.
Mr., Dinwiddle. Not now.
Mr.. Woolley. Not now. ~
: Mr., Mcclellan. II II Is not sold now
1t was at a very recent time.
Mr.. Dinwiddie. We are living in a
. different time now.
Mr.. Mcclellan. That statement must
: apply to recent date. then, II that is
-'tnot the case now. I know I stopped
: In Iowa on my way East and spent a
1week In one OF the prohibition towns