Hawaii Organic Act: Congressional debates on Hawaii Organic Act
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April 19, 1900
House
T. 33 (5)
p. 4448
By Mr. Wilson of Arizona: A bill (H.R.
10843) to amend an act entitled "An act to
amend an act to prohibit the passage of
local or special laws in the Territories,
to limit Territorial indebtedness, and so
forth" - to the Committee on the Territories.
April 20, 1900
Senate
v. 33 (5)
P. 4452
Mr. Hale introduced a bin (S. 4290) to
provide for the acquirement by the United
States of lands and rights therein necessary
to the establishment of a naval station in
Pearl Harbor, island of Oahu, Hawaii, and
for the dredging of approaches to said harbor;
which was read twice by its title, and re-
ferred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
April 20, 1900
Senate
v. 33 (5)
p. 4454-4460
--- TERRITORY OF HAWAII.
Mr. WARREN. I ask leave to call up Senate bill 2610.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The morning business is closed,
and the Chair lays before the Senate the following resolution.
The Secretary read the resolution reported by Mr. TURLEY from
the Committee on Privileges and Elections January 23, 1900, as
follows:
Resolved, That the Hon. Matthew S. Quay is not entitled to take his seat in
this body as a Senator from the State of Pennsylvania.
Mr. CULLOM. Mr. President, I made a conference report the
day before yesterday, which was withdrawn. I now present it
again, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Illinois
presents a conference report on the disagreeing votes of the two
Houses on the amendments of the House to the bill (S. 222) to
provide a government for the Territory of Hawaii, which has
heretofore been read to the Senate. The question is on agreeing
to the report.
Mr. PETTIGREW. Mr. President, it seems to me that this
report ought to be rejected and sent back to the conference com-
mittee, and for this reason: On page 27 of the bill, paragraph 5,
under "Qualifications of voters for representatives," occurs this
provision:
Prior to such registration have paid, on or before the 31st day of March
next preceding the date of registration, all taxes due by him to the govern-
ment.
This provision practically disfranchises most of the people who
are citizens of the United States and citizens of Hawaii, for the
reason that the Hawaiian government imposes a poll tax of $5
upon every voter - that is, they impose a tax of $1, which they call
a poll tax; $3 as a road tax, and $2 as a school tax; making a poll
tax, in all, of $5. This provision is that every person mast have
paid this tax before the 31st day of March next preceding the date
of registration.
There were only 2,600 voters in Hawaii according to the last
election, and this provides that those who wish to vote at the next
election for members of the legislature shall have paid their tax
previous to the 31st day of last March. Of course, that is previous
to the passage of this bill, and it therefore disfranchises everybody
who has not paid this five-dollar tax.
The people of Hawaii --
Mr. SPOONER. Will the Senator be kind enough to read that
again? I did not hear it.
Mr. PETTIGREW. I will complete my remarks, and in the
meantime the Senator can look at the provision in the bill.
Mr. SPOONER. I want to understand what the Senator is stat-
ing; that is all.
Mr. PETTIGREW. The provision is that-
Prior to such registration have paid, on or before the 31st day of March
next preceding the date of registration, all taxes due by him to the govern-
ment.
He must have paid this poll tax of $5 before the 31st day of last
March or he is disfranchised from voting for members of the next
legislature. The next legislature will have the power to impose a
tax of $15 if they choose, or a tax of any other sum, and thus for-
ever exclude nearly all the voters of that country from participa-
tion in the government.
It is no defense to say that this was a provision in the bill as it
passed the Senate; for the bill as it came from the Committee on
Foreign Relations contained so many iniquities that the Senate
overlooked this one, and it is net strange that they did overlook
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