Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-05
CHAMBER CALLED
IN REFERENDUM


Members of the Chamber OF Com
mefce OF Honolulu are called upon TO
determine how the votes OF the cham
Der shall be cast In regard 10 three
questions OF pending national legisla-
ton and Secretary Raymond C. Brown
has sent out to the members the fol-
lowing letter: <31 -
This chamber 10 called upon to
voice an opinion and cast IFS two votes
as Q member OF the Chamber OF Com
merce Of the United States of Amer.
lea on two referenda, Nos. IL and IS.
which have for their purpose the fol-
lowing: @.z.t..
Referendum No. II. on the ques-
ton:
Should there be remedial legisla.
ton to permit cooperative agreements
under federal supervision IN those in
dustries which involve primary nat
ural resources, on condition that the
agreements In fact tend to conserve
the resources. to lessen accidents and
TO promote the public interest
"A report flied with the national
chamber advances an opinion. Id sub
stance, that the feaeral government
should have supervision over re.
sources 70 which manufacturers gens
orally must look for raw material or
fuel, and In the report emphasis 10
placed upon public interest, prevention
Of waste and increased safety for
workmen. The questions raised are
vital alike TO consumers. producers
and operators. The report does not
suggest q form Of remedial agree
ment, but recommendation Is made
that all agreements should protect the
public interest In the sense that they
tend to bring about as great utiliza'
tIon or natural resources as IL prac-
tical under existing and future cOndi-
tons. -tifEs 81
- mis- referendum carries an affirm
alive and negative position; the af-
firmatlge TO the effect that there h
tremendous waste in the mining Of
coal and IN the taking Of petroleum
and natural gas, and that ong IS per
cent OF the total volume Of timber a.
IL stands I'm the forest now reaches
the ultimate consumer, and the federal
government ID asked to legislate 50
Is 10 remedy these conditions and
conserve those natural resources. The
negative position is, In substance, that
federal iegislation Of the nature sug-
gested would interfere with states
rights. and that 30 of the states. In.
Guiding ell states which contain Inn,
portant resources, have laws under
which they regulate methods Of min
ing, particularly with reference TO the
satetY OF miners. and 81 states have,
compensation laws which, In the event
81 accident resulting In disability or
death 70 men IN mines, or in logging
camps. payments must be made.
referendum No. Is carries the
question: -. =.
should the United States constf
tuition be so amended as TO permit,
the president to approve or disapprove
any separate items or provisions con-
latne1 IN nnE Representation IN Q
This Il an old question and has
been advocated BY number ot presi-i
dents and many other public men.
The prima facie intent Of the Constitu.
ton Of the United States Is that the
president shall have power to prevent
the enactment OF legislation to which
he objects unless upon q fec0nsidera-
ton two-thirds OF the members Of each
house Of Congress reappfose the bill
disappeared By the president The
Implication IL that the president shall
be free to give effect to his independ-
ent judgment upon the merits Of bills
which come before him. for approval
or disapproyal. but BY combining in q
single bin diverse subjects Of vary.
Ing degrees OF merit and requiring ac-.
ton By the president upon the bill
as q whole, be Is deprived Of the.
power Of Independent Judgment and Is.
coerced into accepting that Of which
bis Judgment disapproves or defeat
that which ne believes wise and neces-
say. An appropriation bin Is neces-
sary In the operation Of the functions
OF government, but an appropriation
bin should not be made vehicle for
legislation which Is ofttimes objee-
tIonable and many times UNNECESSARY;
hence the object Of the National cham
the constitution which will permit Of
veto OF separate items IN an appro-
priation bin.
~Refefendnm No. 10:
Since the above was written Ref
erendum No. IS has arrived and car
ries the question. for an expression
Of our opinion. Is to whether or not
existing laws shall be amended so as
70 require fun public investigation Of
the merits of every diapute between.
railroad carriers Of interstate com,
merce and their employees before any
interruption Of transportation shall be.
attempted, and that the public, a. has.'
ing the paramount interests. shall
have the majority representation on q
board Of iuyestigation. etc., the whole
matter involved being that the main
tenanee OF continuous and unimpaifed
transportation service b OF vital Inn
portance to every industry in the
United States and TO every eltlzen.
and therefore the public has right TO