The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-05-31
THE ADVERTISERS SEMLwEEKLY
As Expected

4 \ the laudable purpose OF continuing the maxi
mum production Of sugar IN the Territory, has
died a-borning. 1t a case OF infantcide at the
hands OF its overly eager parents. 1t was stranged
to death in advance Of its birth by those most
anxious to see it appear earth a lusty healthy
voungster Those who slaughtered this unborn
legislative babe now attempting to place the
blame upon others. Naturally, II would be hard
10 imagine those who bungled their work so badly
at the start having the good judgement now to
recognize their own buugling and acknowledg-
ing it.
The Shinglc Bill was legitimately conceived,
but with the surrounding circumstances all tend
ing to brand it with bar sinister embossed in
raw sugar.
1t happened to be the last OF a long line Of sug-
gestions, each OF its predecessors being an open
attempt to give demonstrating in Hawaii the coup
de grace For FIVE years the administration has
been doing its best to discourage further home
stealing and prevent existing homesteads from
succeeding. In this the administration received
plenty OF secret encouragement. Who in Hawaii
does not know Of the vacation trips that wound
up in the Office Of the secretary Of the interior?
Then came the Shingle Bill bill that was wei
coined in principle by those who desired to find
some method whereby the war needs OF the nation
for maximum sugar output might be met and,
at the same time the inherent right of the citizen
succeed recognized and protected. The Shnge
! Bill was aimed at only the one object, however,
that of sugar production by the plantations. All
incidental protection for demonstrating over
looked. Immediately the glarng defects of the
measure were pointed out, both in the press and
on the floor of the senate. There was no OPPOSE
| zion to the announced design of the legislation
but there was, at once, strong opposition to the
phrasng Of the bill, more from what it omitted
than to the clauses that appeared. 1t was an
nounced forthwith, by its sponsors that these
| faults would be remeded.
| What happened2 The bin was turned over to
attorneys representing the corporations interested
| No spokesman of the homesteaders was invited to
present their interests The result was redraft
of the bill that magnifed every advantage given
the plantations and completely ignored every right
Of the homesteader The Improvement" of the
bill consisted in giving the plantations a mile
where the original bill gave them ell, and in
nothing else.
The objections voiced to the original bill were
renewed and made stronger against the revised
version, whereupon single clause was inserted
providing that the hOmesteader would be protect
! ed in the sale OF his cane crop, but without any
tpretense that he would be should be protected
in any way while bringing such to maturity
If those back OF this bill had been sincerely
steaders why did they not invite some recognized
representative of the demonstrating interests, such
as Judge Metzger of Hilo or +. n. W. I}roadbent
Of Kauai. to appear and speak for the homestead
ers? 1t is ridiculous to suppose that the average
prospective homesteader would appear before
Legislative committee to face the legal battery o.
the corporations
The result was a bill sent to the house SO one
sided that it would have to be completely redraftec
to ensure fairness, sent in that form despite ad
ance protests from the representatives and in the
lace Of the generally adverse criticism OF the pub
lie. That the house has Indefinitely postponec
consideration OF the measure is only hat NIGH
have been expected.
} You can't fool all the people all the timc espe
cially when YOU try to fool them about the same
thing in the same old way ANY fair measure
would have passed emergency BILL because
the house members are just Il, patrUtcally anXl
Gus to the sugar supply As are the senators
When patriotism appears only a plain cloak
rs it did in the bill presented, however, invoking
: IT is naturally resented.