The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-04-07
LITTLE SUPPORT
FOR SUNDAY BILL
STRONG SPEECHES AaAMsT AT
PUBLIC HEARING LAST
NIGHT.
lFrom wedne.day 8 Advertiaer.l


II the opinions expressed at the
special public meeting of the health and
police committee Of the house, which
was held last night, are to be taken as
criterion of the general public senti-
ment in the matter Of Quinn's Sunday
Theater bill it must be declared that
it is not popular measure.
The throne room was filed to over
flowing with enthusiastic speakers and
listeners, and it was apparent that the
churches were out in full force. The
adherents of the bill were very back
ward in making their presence known
or there are very few of them or they
were not present.
As Senator Quinn remarked, it was
very apparent that no effort had been
made by the supporters Of the measure
to pack the meeting.
The speakers, in many instances fail
ed to please Chairman Coney by stick
ing to the point, discussing everything
from the Magma Charta to the Declare
ton of Independence, though OCCASION
ally reverting to the subject at issue,
the Sunday Theater bill. Chairman
Coney was up on his feet every few
minutes to "call the gentleman down,
and he even had the temerity to "call
down. one or two ladies-for the
women also had few remarks to sub
init on the question. Occasionally a
speaker became so warmed up on ex-
traneous matter that the chairman had
occasion to threaten to order the ser
geant-at-arms to make him take his
seat.
Hawaiians formed nearly half of
those present, the Portuguese were well
represented, there were few Chinese
and Japanese, and goodly number of
"haoles, -
The city government was represented
by Mayor Fern and Supervisors Murray
and Kruger and Doctor Mackall, and
to give a list of the clergyman and
bishops present would be to print an
ecclesiastical directory of the city.
Speeches were made in both Hawa'
iian and English, the number being
about equally divided.
The first speaker was Charles X. Kea
loha, who spoke in Hawaiian. He i'm
mediately got off the question by bring
ing in irrelevant political matters. He
was promptly "called down" by the
vigilant chairman. He was against
the bill for the reason that the county
would get no revenue out of it.
w. A. Kinney, the next speaker, was
strongly opposed to the bill He said
in part:
''Some consideration should be given
as to what is to be committed to the
board of supervisors. understand the
issue is matter of the highest and
gravest Importance and it has no more
business TO be committed to the boarC
of supervisors than question as tt
whether the Territory is to engage il
a war with Tahiti or Samoa. Does the
City of New York have a right to say
and determine what should or should
not be done on Sundays? No. Thu
people of the sovereign State of New
York decide what shall be, done in The
City of New York on that day. con
slider it preposterous that a question o.
this kind, involving the deepest convic
tions of the people should be commit
ted to board of supervisors. This il
not local question. Every man, WON
an and child on the Island of Kaua
has just as much right 10 determine
what shall or shall not be done in this
capital city as the residents of this city
The residents of this city neither live
nor die unto Themselves
Chairman Coney suggested that al
amendment be made to the bill to the
effect that it take effect after the mex
campaign, but, when asked by Mr.. Kin
ney to run ON that issue, stated thai
he was not in favor of it.