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3811 prevent the saloon, the gathering place and loafing resort where, In our new dependencies already great reproach upon the American people has been incurred, and I think it would be wise to have this prohibition in the act of Congress, and not leave it to the local legislature to become an issue in local politics. Mr. KNOX. Mr. Chairman, I have but a word to say upon this amendment. I heartily agree with the purpose of the gentleman as to saloons wherever it may properly be carried out. I simply call the attention of the committee to chapter 1, Title XXIII, on the general subject relating to Territories- The legislative power of every Territory shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States. For more than fifty years the legislatures of our Territories that we have organized have had the power to deal with questions of municipal and local interests in their legislatures. Now we have created, and we do create by this bill, a legislature of Hawaii, with a senate and house of representatives, with a veto power conferred on the governor; and I think that the only safe way for Congress is to abide by the uniform practice of the past, and keep the matter of the regulation of the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors in Hawaii in the local legislature. I only desire, further, to call attention of the committee to the reasons why Congress has refrained from assuming the burden of liquor legislation for Territories. We, all of us that have license laws and prohibitory laws in the large cities, know of the vast amount of legislation required. If Congress once put down the bars and entered upon the broad field of legislating in reference to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, there would be no session of Congress long enough to dispose of such legislation. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I certainly hope the amendment offered by my colleague from Massachusetts will not prevail. It seems to me that the regulation of the liquor traffic is a matter for the Hawaiian legislature to act upon. The control of all liquor legislation in the past in the matter of enacting laws for the government of new Territories has been left to the Territories themselves; and in dealing with our new possessions which are to 'be admitted as Territories I think we ought to give them as much latitude as we can. We are pledged to do this, and we should carry out our promises. It is impossible for Congress, sitting thousands of miles away from these islands, to settle the matter properly, because the different conditions as they arise can not be met. It seems to me this is an exercise of the police power and we should go very slow. I am not a drinking man myself, and my views on this question are certainly not prejudiced in favor of the liquor interests. I believe in adopting the wisest course of action, and if this amendment should be added I do not think the law will ever be enforced. The sentiment of the people of this country is not for prohibition, and, in my judgment, never will be. Where the prohibitory law exists its enforcement is a farce. Drinking places in the State of Maine, which has a prohibitory law, are as common in some of the large cities as in the cities of Massachusetts, where the local-option system is in operation. Do not let us be hypocrites on this question. If my colleague thinks it is wise to prohibit the sale of liquor, let us start right here in the city of Washington. We act as the city council of this city, and we have the power to put prohibition into force; and if there are men in this House who feel that prohibition is wise legislation and that the liquor traffic can be suppressed, let us commence right here in this city. Yes, let us commence right here in the Capitol, where liquor is sold in both the Senate and House restaurants. I think we ought to be consistent, and I certainly am in favor of the position taken by Mr. KNOX, of Massachusetts, the chairman of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, who says this matter ought to be left to the local Hawaiian government. Let us enact laws that will harmonize with the views as well as the lest government of our new possessions, and not introduce American government by inserting provisions that to me seem certainly unwise and bound to cause irritation if put into force. Mr. LITTLEFIELD rose. Mr. KNOX. Debate on the amendment is exhausted. The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Massachusetts makes the point of order that debate on this amendment is exhausted. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. I rose just to say a few words on the amendment. If the chairman sees fit to make the point of order, he can do it, and that will be all right. The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Maine asks unanimous consent to address the committee for five minutes. Is there objection? [After a pause.] The Chair hears none. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. I will not waste any time in talking about the prohibition law of the State of Maine to- day. I will say that the gentleman can not put his finger on a spot or place in the State of Maine where liquor is sold openly. Now, I make that statement, and I am from that State. What I mean and what I wish to say in talking about the enforcement of the pro- hibitory law in Maine is that the people in Maine, four to one, are satisfied with, the prohibitory law in Maine and believe in it. There is not, an open saloon - a place where your attention would be directed to its sale if you were not looking for it - in the State of Maine anywhere. Now, I come from that State, and I know what I am talking about. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. Will the gentleman allow a question? Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Name a place where there is an open saloon in the State of Maine. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. I think the gentleman will agree with me -- Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Name a place. I will not agree with yon. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. I challenge the gentleman to deny the fact that liquor can be obtained at almost any hotel in the city of Portland. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. I say there is no open bar. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. The bars are open enough in the hotels if my friend will investigate the matter. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Now, you can not bother me with that. I have heard that kind of conversation before. There is no use talking about it, and I say I challenge any man in this House or anywhere else to dispute the proposition that there is not a place in the State of Maine where liquor is sold openly. I make that statement. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. I wish to say, and state it emphatically, that I deny that proposition. It is sold in the apothecary stores and the hotels in Portland and every other large city in Maine. I have seen it sold repeatedly myself. It is a fact that liquor can be obtained in these places, and I challenge the gentleman to deny it. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Name the place. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. I say in every hotel, and I will name the Falmouth Hotel in Portland as one inasmuch as the gentleman from Maine insists upon a specific answer. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. I say that there is no open saloon in the State of Maine. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. I said nothing about an open saloon . I say that liquor is sold there regardless of the law. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. I have not said that it was not sold. [Laughter.] Pay attention to what I say. I say that there is not an open saloon in the State of Maine where liquor is sold. Mr. FITZGERALD of Massachusetts. That only shows the hypocrisy down there. It is sold behind the door. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. This amendment is directed upon the saloon in Hawaii. I want to ask the chairman of the committee if it is not true that sixteen countries have, by treaty convention, agreed to prohibit the sale of distilled liquors to the native tribes of Africa, and if it is not true that the Hawaiians in Hawaii are of substantially the same character as the native tribes of Africa? [Cries of "Oh, no, no!"] I understood that they were. They are all one tribe? Mr. KNOX. No; there is no tribe there at all. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Is there any great difference in character between the people in Hawaii and the tropical people in Africa? Mr. HAMILTON. A vast difference. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. But every proclamation in Hawaii has to be published in five different languages. That is the kind of people you are legislating for. I say it is the policy of the civilized countries to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors, and sixteen of the great nations have agreed to that position in connection with the people of South Africa, and the United States is one of them. Mr. KNOX. The gentleman does not wish to misstate anything. All proclamations and legal papers of every kind are to be made in the English language. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. They are by this bill, but they are now published in five languages. I have that from the attorney-general of Hawaii. I say it is the policy of the civilized world to prohibit the sale of distilled liquors at least to the native tribes in Africa. The CHAIRMAN. The time of the gentleman from Maine has expired. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. I ask unanimous consent that I may have three minutes to conclude my remarks. The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Maine asks that his time be extended three minutes. Is there objection? [After a pause.] The Chair hears none. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Now, I submit that this amendment is in line with that policy. I want to call attention just for a minute to the effect of this bill. A MEMBER. Alaska had a prohibitory law. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Yes; Alaska had a prohibitory law until it was repealed by the House a year ago. This bill creates for Hawaii three kinds of people who are citizens. Thirty-nine thousand native Hawaiians, about 17,000 Portuguese, and about 8,000