Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-17
THE HAWAIIAN AFFAIR.
The Matter Has Now Passed Into the Con.
troll of the Legislative Branch.


troll of the Legislative Branch.
Sec Rotary John W. Foster left here at Il
O'Clock this morning for WATERFOWL. " Y, tC
spend few days with his family, who are nov
there, prior to his departure for Paris as tn.
agent for the United States before the Berine
sea arbitrators. Mr.. Foster will return tc
Washington next Monday and will remain here
until the following Friday in order TO close W
as much as possible Of the pending business OF
the department. He has arranged to sail from
New York on the 25th instant on the steamer
New York, and will have Senator Morgan, one
OF the arbitrators on the part of the United
States, as companion on the voyage.
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE QUEEN
Mr.. Newman and the Hawaiian prince who
are now on their way to Washington to advo-
cate the cause Of the dethroned queen. have as
yet made no arrangements TO be received by
the President or his Secretary of State, and il
they reach here between now and Monday they
will find some difficulty in making an official
presentation Of their case. The absence of the
executive Officers, however, will have little
bearing on the royal side OF the case as the
Hawaiian matter has now passed out Of their
hands and is subject entirely to the action of
the legislative branch of the government
A TALK WITH Mr.. SMITH
Mr.. Mott Smith the Hawaiian minister. was
at the State Department this morning and had
a short interview with Chief Clerk Chiffon. He
told STAR reporter that the annexation com
missioners will leave for home as soon as the
Senate acts on the treaty. They hope he said
that the treaty will be ratified by the presen,
Congress, and they will wait until March il
necessary. II, however. action is deferred
until the next Congress all the commissioner
eyceDt one will returu tn Ha waii r,g tb<
adjournment. Mr.. Smith said he did not know
who would remain behind in case the treaty
goes over, as the commissioners have delayed
making any such selection in the hope that il
Will not be necessary.
SATISFIED WITH THE NEWS.
The information conveyed in the San Fran
cisco dispatches relating to the satisfactory pro-
gress of affairs in Hawaii was received with
much pleasure by the commissioners Of the
provisional government. They expect to re-
ceive Geographic advices upon the release OF
the steamers mail.
The United States steamer Mohican, whose
arrival at Honolulu the Belgic reported, car
ried the first news to the islands from the United
States after the arrival Of the commissioners in
this country.
The commissioners were shown the dispatch
from San Francisco stating that F. S. Pratt.
hawaiian consul general, had sent to Vice
ratifying that part of the annena-
ton treaty that applied to the crown
lands in Hawaii. They said the assertion that
Mr.. Pratt's wife had any claim to the la ds
was without good foundation. Since 1865
the lands have been under the control
OF the Hawaiian government. and their pro-
ceeds have been disbursed for gov
ornamental purposes. The expenses of the
reigning family. however, were paid from
this specific revenue. Mrs. Pratt is not a
member of the reigning family, though
she descended from the chiefs. The
status Of the lands ESTIMATED by the com
missioners to be worth more than 81, 500. OOO),
they say, has been settled beyond any question
OF doubt since 1865. when the government ac-
quired perfect title to them.
s. NJ. Damon, who has been appointed vice
president of the provisional government.
was minister of finance in the Thurston
cabihet from 1889 to $780, Since that time
he has been member of the advisory
council. He is a member of the lead
ing banking house of Hawaii, a man Of con-
SENTATIVE views and popular with the ma
tivss of Hawaii, although born of American
parents. He is not, as stated in the San Fran
cisco dispatch, one of the commissioners now
in Washington.