The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-12-23
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SIDESTEPS FULL CONTROL
OF HAWAII LEGISLATURE
The Wahiawa Bill.

zen could stand for.
The wahiawa Bill.
AS to the Wahiawa bill, the speaker
has not seen the text, but understood
it to be to the effect that congress
should take the Wahiawa waters away
from the people who had developed a
water system there at the cost of hun.
dreds of thousands of dollars, and, with
out consideration, make d present of
them to certain other people.
Without knowing the details or the
reasons behind this bill, it raised the
gorge of the speaker, as he believed it
had other members of the community;
for if this could be done in one case
nobody knew who might be next.
The speaker felt the chamber of COM
merce should put itself on record spe.
officially against these two bills.
Mr.. Thurston agreed with w. R.
Castle, however, that it was unsound
for the chamber of commerce to com
init itself beforehand to the principle
that it disapproved of action being
taken by congress concerning Hawaiian
affairs except after the subject had
been considered by the local legislature.
He did not know what kind of a
legislature or Governor we might have,
and congress might be our court of last
appeal against disastrous conditions.
He thought the way ought to be left
open to anyone TO go to congress in
case of necessity, whether the legisla.
ture liked it or not.
No action should be asked of con-
gress without the fullest publ ity and
opportunity for discussion in Hawaii,
but the speaker saw no object in tying
our hands beforehand, to await action
by the legislature, which might delay
action for two years.
The adoption of the principle would
not bind others who might want to
secure legislation in congress, but would
put us in the position of stultifying
ourselves if some occasion arose in the
future requiring early action by con.
gress.
The Amendment.
Mr.. Thurston thereupon presented the
following amendment in place of the
second resolution originally moved:
Resolved, That whereas there are
now pending before congress two bills
relating to irrigation and the DISPOSE.
ton of public lands and water rights
in the Territory of Hawaii, the specific
titles of which bills are not now avail.
able, which bills vitality affect the pub
lie interests of Hawaii, and which have
not been subject to local consideration
or discussion; therefore congress is re-
spectfully requested not to pass said
bills"
Affected Local Affairs.
w. o. Smith made a lengthy address
on Hawaii IS relation to the federal gov.
eminent, and went into the history of
Hawaii's past eighty years, how former
monarchy and republic passed into the
family of States and Territories under
the Organic Act, which is practically
Hawaii's constitution, and argued along
the lines of self-government, support
ing the entire resolution as introduced.
He did not believe there would be any
matters so important that they could
not wait for legislative action before
being sent to congress.
He felt very strongly that while there
might be questions arising on which
quick action might be desired and
which should need to go to congress
quickly, nevertheless it seemed to him
safer that some such policy as outlined
in the resolution should be adopted.
The resolution did not affect national
affairs; it was only local affairs in Ha-
wall which the resolution referred to.
He thought there was a misapprehen-
sion about the second resolution.
Hawaii had certain powers which
were never given to the other Terrific
ries. Congress, in determining Ha-
wall S status and powers, went beyond
its usual grants to Territories, and con-
gress practically reenacted our own
laws. Our local affairs should be set
tied, so far as possible, here. We should
object to congress passing private bills
before they are first submitted here.
The point he emphasized was that while
it may now and then occur that there
might be delays and unfortunate re-
suits, there is ten times more danger
from the private bills, such as are now
before congress. Hawaii was at dis
advantage in its relations with Wash
ington, owing to the ocean between,
even with the cable service we have. b,
Should Be Informed.
j. R. Gait sized up the resolutions
and the discussion as that the chamber
wanted to know in advance what is
being Brought up before congress in
Solving any legislation concerning Ha-
wall, and there was only one way and
that was to have representative in
Washington who will notify that body
of every bill introduced in both houses
and whenever he finds something re.
iatipg to Hawaii he should notify the
chamber and that body should notify
the people.
A. Lewis, Jr., seconded Mr.. Thurs
ton 3 amendment. He said there was
"a great tendency in this country that
when a certain situation arose and it
is considered, 1--WE are likely to swing
the pendulum TO the other extreme. "
uIe believed in dealing with specific
problems,
There might be times when it is
Unnecessary TO have action before the
Legislature meets. 1t may be necessary
10 have legislation which the legisla-
lure may have failed TO pass, What
theni awe should cross one bridge
AZ time" he added
Fundamental Principles.
Judge Ballou went into the matter
along lines similar 10 those expressed
by w, o, Smith. The MeCrossOn Wa.
u A. 4 A