The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-03-11
HANDS orr SAYS OUR
HOUSE TO CONGRESS


,nly three against, with Kaniho aud |
ravhres absent. the lower house Of the |
legislature went on record yesterday /
"a being opposed 10 having congress
legislntc fos the Territory on the liquor
traffic question.
shortly. before taking adjournment
for the day, Representative Coney of
Kauai introduced a concurrent rcsolu.
ton the meat Of which was that the
Legislature respectfully ask congress to
keep its hands of Hawaii and kill the
Gronna Bill
The resolution caused no surprise
among the members, most of whom
we're fully aware the question was to
come up shortly, The Advertiser hav-
ing printed n story to that effect only
last Wednesday.
Following the introduction Of his
resolution, Representative Coney, in
moving its adoption by the house, broke
the record so far this session in the
duration of his speech He spoke at
some length and with considerable
earnestness.
"Mr. Speaker" said Coney, "in in
Producing this resolution l am not try
ing to bring up the question of whether
or not Hawaii shall have prohibitions;
whether Hawaii shall remain wet or
60 dry.
| 'The question is, who should have
right to legislate on the matter7
Congress which, under the Organic Act,
gave us that privilege and prerogative,
or we, who know best the situation at
home and the feeling of the people
here at large.
Less than three years ago this ques-
ton came up before congress-; some
| well-intentioned people endeavored to
have the national lawmakers declare
this dry Territory, but congress
passed the buck up to us and, at the
special election held in July, 1910 the
people of this Territory by an over
whelming majority declared against
prohibition.
There are now measures before con-
i.gress, Mr.. Speaker, whose intent would
be to have the national legislature do
what was declared against by the vot-
ers of this Territory only three years
1 ago.
off the prohibition party here wants
| to have its will carried out, it is up to
them to elect men who will do so
through the legislature of this Territory
} and not otherwise. If the citizens of
\ Hawaii are capable of handling the
other affairs of purely local interest,
then they should have the authority to
also handle this matter. We have been
given certain rights under the Organic
Act and for congress to step in now
and act for us, when we are perfectly
able to do so ourselves, would be to
fusurp our rights as citizens of Hawaii
and the United States. I move the
adoption of the resolution"
Members on Record.
Representative Kawewehi immediate,
ly seconded the motion and called for
an "aye" and emo" vote SO as to
have everybody go on record in the
matter AS more than fifth voted in
favor of the roll call it was SO ordered
Most of the members voted without
! hesitation, few said "kanalua" and
mahope,'' but on being called agar
voted without any further delay. Shell
don IS vote was given in snch muffiet
tone that it was hard to say whether h,
voted "aye" or "no' and the Speaker
ordered the clerk to call the member 4
; name second time. He voted eyes.
With Tavares absent on leave ant
Kaniho away without permission, the
roll cali on the adoption of the reso
luton was as follows:
Ayes-Asch, Coney, G. P Cooke, Sill
va, Goodness, Hubby. Irwin. Kaaua
Kalakiela, Kaupiko, Kawewehi, Kins
lea, Kupihea, Lota, Lyman, Makekau
McCandless, Poepoe, Robertson, Shell
don, Spalding, Waiaholo, Watkins, Will
cox. Mr.. Speaker.-25.
Noes-Clarence II. Cooke, Paela ant
Paxson.-3.
Senate to Argue It.
A concurrent resolution, identical il
wording, was introduced in the senat
by Senator Wirtz, but no vote wa
taken, 1t was probably be laid on th
table when the house measure come
up for action. There is no doubt bu
this resolution will precipitate the frs
real battle of the session should
come up for passage today. In opposi
ton to those who believe that the re
cent plebiscite showed how the peopl
felt on the prohibition question is
strong force, in the senate at least, tina
is unalterably opposed to making an.
compromise with the so-called Clique
interests.