The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-01-09
President Of Chamber Of Com
merce Prepared To Fight
Delegates Measure
OTHER PROMINENT MEN OF
THE CITY ALSO ANTAG0NlSTIC
Business Men Of Honolulu Believe
Such a Change In Policy
lll-Timed

George W, Smith, president of the
chamber Of commerce, Is opposed to
the bin now In congress TO make the
oliice Of governor elective. instead Of
hppointive. l s..s.-, .5.y..r...,.. .
Mr.. Smith when interviewed about the
matter yesterday admitted that he did
not know anything about the proyi.
sions Of the bill and that he had not
seen a copy Of IL. Others interviewed
were equally in ignorance Of the scope
of the bill and equally opposed TO the
proposition to make the guboruatorial
Office elective. .@Ei.. g..
81 really do not know anything
about it," answered Mr.. Smith. "1
have read few brief comments about
the matter in the daily papers but have
not seen n copy of the bill. On gen.
efal principles, however, ] am opposed
10 the project and think that at this
time II is unwise to try to make any
change.
rOflicials Of the chamber Of commerce
also stated that they had not seen the
bin although the matter had been
brought TO their attention and two
meetings had been held to consider the
matter. . "r" o..
Has Not Seen Bill e.
Secretary Brown said yesterday that
the chamber had not been able to take
any action in the matter for the reason
that the members did not know what
IL was about. 49,. ~ i,
NTbere have been two meetings, :"
no said, "when the matter was brought
up, but nothing was done because we
Dad not received copy of the bill
Personally ] am opposed TO any such
action and believe that il is not wise.
i shall try to obtain copy of the bill
pnd the matter probably will be dis.
cussed by the chamber at regular
meefing.n -s,.. ~. ~.
The bill in question, which is Of such
importance to Hawaii and about which
many OF the prominent citizens of Ho.
.nolulu are in Ignorance, was introduced
in congress on December rs by Dele,
gate Kuhio. According to the provi.
sions Of the bin the governor and sec
rotary Of the Territory "shall be elect.
ed BY the qualified electors Of the Ter
Titory Of Hawaii, and that all the laws
for the Territory Of Hawaii relating toI
tho nomination and election Of dele
gate TO the congress Of the United
States shall be held to apply to the
termination and election Of governor
and secretary Of the Territory Of Ha.
waii.p s3ltGF . n
Knhio Ambitious Ia j
It was intimated by several persons
who were interviewed that the action
taken in Washington was for the -pur-
Rose Of making Kuhio the first elective
governor of the Territory. It also was
deslared by number Of persons that
any such action should not be- made
without the consent Of the people Of
the Territory expressed through their
Representatives. in the legislature. Be.
fore leaving for the mainland Delegate
Kuhio stated in an interview that IL
would be wiser to have some action by
the legislature before the matter was
taken up at Washington.
The bill in full follows:
rssBe II enacted by the senate and
house of representatives Of the United
States of Americas in congress as
semhled, that the executive power Of
the government of the Territory of
Hawaii shall be vested in Governor,
who shall be elected by the qualified
olectprs of the Territory of Hawaii in
the manner hereinbefore set forth. He
shall hold office for four years from
the FIRST Monday In January succeed.
ing his election and until his successor
shall be elected and qualified. He shall
possess all Of the qualifications now
required by law to be possessed by the
Governor of the Territory of Hawaii,
and all powers now by law vested in
the Governor of the Territory shall be
vested In the Governor thus chosen.
tfSee. 2. That there shall be a
secretary of the Territory Of Hawaii
who shall be elected by the qualified
electors of the Territory Of Hawaii in
the manner hereinafter set forth, who
shall bold his Office for period Of
four years from the first Monday in
Jhndhfy hext succeeding his election
and until his successor shall be elected
And qualified. The secretary thus chos
en- shall possess all Of the qualifications
now required by law TO be possessed
BY the secretary Of the Territory, and
shall be vested with all powers now
hY law vested in such secretary.
Change Next Year
"see. 3. That at the general elec.
ton 10 be held on the Tuesday next
after the first Monday in November,
nineteen hundred and eighteen, and ev
cry fourth year thereafter, there shall
be- elected Governor and secretary
81 the said Territory. All the laws OF
the Territory Of Hawaii relating to the
Nomination and election Of delegate
10 the congress Of the United States
shall be held TO apply to the. nomina.
fion and election Of the Governor and
secretary until otherwise provided by
the laws of the Territory of Hawaii.
ffSee, 8, That in case Of the death,
Resignation. or disability of the. Gov.
efnor OF his absence from the Terri.
tory, the secretary shall exercise all the
powers and perform all the duties of
the Governor during such vacancy, dis
ability. or absence until another Gov.
crhor be elected or such disability or