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

1 Members of the Chamber Of Com.
\ uierce OF Honolulu are called upon 70
7 determine how the votes of the cham
/ Der shall be cast in regard to three
questions OF pending national legisla-
ton and Secretary Raymond c. Brown
has sent out to the members the fol-
lowing letter: .. --~.s.
! This chamber is called upon to
voice an opinion and cast its two votes
as a member of the Chamber Of Com
merce Of the United States Of Amer
lea on two referenda, Nos. II and IS,
which have for their purpose the fol-
| lowing:
Referendum No. II, on the ques-
ton:
Should there be remedial Iegisla.
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 s..
"A report filed with the national
chamber advances an opinion, In sub
stance, that the feoeral government
should have supervision over re-
sources to which manufacturers gen.
orally must look for raw material or
fuel, and in the report emphasis is
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-
ton OF natural resources as is prac-
tical under existing and future condi-
tons. ~ t....E ~ - <.zs5
i II his referendum carries an affirm
alive and negative position; the af-
firmatiVe TO the effect that there is
tremendous waste in the mining OF
coal and In the taking of petroleum
and natural gas, and that only 80 per
cent of the total volume of timber as
1t stands in the forest now reaches
the ultimate consumer, and the federal
government is asked to legislate so
as to remedy these conditions and
conserve those natural resources. The
negative position is, In substance. that
federal legislation Of the nature sug-
gested would interfere with states
rights, and that 80 OF the states, in
ciudlng all states which contain irn-
portant resources, have laws under
which they regulate methods of min
ing, particularly with reference to the
safety of miners, and 81 states have
compensation laws which, In the event
Of accident resulting In disability or
death to men in mines, or In logging
camps, payments must be made.
referendum No. Is carries the
question: S ] {s.s.
Should the United States Consti-
tuition be SO amended as to permit
the president to approve or disapproye
any separate items or provisions con-
tanned in any appropriation bfll?'
This is an old question and has
been advocated by number Of presi.
dents and many other public men.
The prima facie irf1nt OF the Eunstitu.
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 reconsidera.
ton two-thirds of the members OF zach
house Of Congress reapproye the bill
disapproved by the president. The
implication is that the president shall
be free to give effect to his independ.
emit judgment upon the merits Of bills
which come before him for approval
or disapproyal, but by combining in a
single bill diverse subjects of vary
ing degrees OF merit and requiring ac-
ton by the president upon the bill
as whole, he is deprived Of the |
power Of independent Judgment and Is |
coerced into accepting that of which |
his Judgment disapproyes or defeat !
that which he believes wise and neces-
say. An Appropriation bill is neces- |
sary In the operation of the functions |
Of government, but an appropriation |
bill should not be made vehicle Cor
legislation which is ofttimes objec. |
.ionable and many times unnecessary; |
hence the object Of the national cham
Der In advocating an amendment to
the constitution which will permit of |
veto Of separate items In an appro-
priation bill.
''Referendum No. 10: go
Since the above was written Ref.
erendum No. 19 has arrived and car
Res the question, FOR an expression
of our opinion, as to whether or not i
existing laws shall be amended so as /
o require full public investigation of i
he merits Of every dispute between
'ailroad carriers Of interstate com +
nerce and their employees before any
Of transportation shall be
attempted, and that the public, as hay-
ng the paramount interests. Shall /
rave the majority representation on
BOARD of investigation. ETC., the whole
natter involved being that the main
enance of continuous and unimpaired
transportation service is of vital i'm.