Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-22
HOUSE DEFEATS
AINAHAu BILL

In the hardest fought forensic BATTLE
on the floor of the house duri2g tRcI
present session, the Ainahau bill was
defeated late yesterday afternoon. The
final vote, on the majority reporl oil
the public lands committee, @aig.. re
commended the measure be -indefi-
niteIy postponed. stood fourteen Ioi
fourteen, Representative Archie Roo.
eTts0R, one of the heirs or the CleS-
horn estate, not voting. Before the
vote could be announced four metz
GERS who voted against the majority
report, changed 'front.'" making the
vote eighteen TO ten, to postpone Sae
lii indefinitely. ..~-. .
One of those who switched at the
;ast moment was Speaker H0lsteIu,
who for the second time that day and
the third time in the session, lad
taken the floor He fought hard TO
save Ainahau to the territory, bur lost
and it was believed he changed his
vote SO that he may be within the
rule of parliamentary procedure in
later moving for reconsideration.
This is the only chance the bill now
has. Otherwise Ainahau is lost, and
will revert 20 the fifteen heirs.
Two votes were taken: the first,
to adopt the minority report of the
lands committee, recommending thei
measures passage, was lost, Is to u.
Strangely enough. in defeating the
Ainahau bill, tie house turned against
Its two recognized leaders, DR.. Archer
Irwin of the minority or Democratic
contingent, and Speaker Holstein OF
the majority. The former spoke elo-
quently, touching upon the sentiment
tai side of the subject in mastery
address. f.: ....: -.
Holstein, discussing the legal, prac-
teal phase of the situation, created
mild sensation by charging Archie
Robertson with lobbying on the floor
of the house. The speaker declared it
disgrace. a blot on the escutcheon
of body before whom former Attor-
ney General Wickersham had only re-
Gently declared Hawaii would be judg-
ed by the action of her lawmakers.
Robertson, who up to this time had
taken no part in any of the public dis.
Cussions or Ainahau and had declinedi
to vote on II, took the floor, declaring
he arose to defend himself against the
speakers accusation. In reply he said
he had been called into Holsteins pri-l
vate office when the Hawaii probe bill,
was under consideration, had beeni
asked how he stood, and on his state
1nent that he was opposed to that
measure, had been urged by fhel
speaker to change his vote. |
He recalled the fact that two years |
ago Holstein also fought the Ainahau
offer. During the present session,
and before the speaker had changed
his mind, Robertson said he had been
again called into Holstein's office and
informed that if he wanted to keep the
territory from taking over the Cleg-
horn property he must get out and3
do some missionary work"
"And that, Mr.. Speaker" said Rob
ertson, SIS just what I've been doing.
I've been following the advice Mr.. Hel
stein gave me. Moreover, / haven't
found anything in the books that prof.
hibits lobbying
Robertson also thought it peculiari
that the speaker had so abruptly I'M
dergone change of opinion concern
ing the desirability of the Ainahau
gilt. hepiyH1S " tHISy E1plSLS1l odlA 4
he was convinced two years ago theI
supervisors did not want Ainahau.l
They were to- be responsible for the
property's upkeep, and if they didn't !
want it he had considered it inadvis-.
able they should be compelled to take
it. Now the conditions, he said, arei
changed. The supervisors would be
glad to take charge of the park.
Holstein added i:iat, like his coli
elague from Kona, Representative ka-t
wewehi, he believed "a wise man,
changed his mind. but a fool never
AT that, Kawewefi gained the floor.t
He acknowledged he had expressed
the sentiRent just accredited him. !
MIR. Speaker" he added, Two years.
ago favored accepting hInE-au. NOW
I'm going to avail myself Of the pref
rogative which Mr.. Holstein has called
to your attention To-Day / hayef