The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-11

in the Senate, and while there has
been a deal of tall talk about helping
the pioneer coffee planter of Olaa by
the honorable members, but small
service has been rendered them up to
date by the Senate. The Olaa settlers
sent resolutions asking that certain
changes in the proposed bill be made
by both Houses of Congress. The
lower House, deeming their request
conservative and for the public good,
and that it was right and just to grant
to these people, who have Tisked their
money in opening up a new country,
and who had made other Government
land more valuable, some conces-
sions, have treated them fairly well.
Not so the Senate, although the Sen
ator from Third District claimed in
open session on Tuesday that the Sen
ate was granting more than the Olaa
people have asked for. Let US see how
much truth there is in that state
ment?
The settlers asked that they be al
lowed to purchase their land when
per cent. This the House granted and
the Senate changed to 10 per cent,
which at first glance looks good, but
on closer scrutiny one is impressed
with the idea that it is not even as
good for the people as the House bill,
as they (the Senate) have tackled on a
condition compelling the lessee to
have $500 in improvements, which,
according to their bill, means some
thing other than the cultivation of the
soil. The old lease contains a clause
compelling the lessee to cultivate in
three years 5 per cent, and another
clause compelling him to erect build
ings and fences to the amount of $500
in the same length of time. This the
settlers asked to have changed, so that
the requirements of the two clauses
would be fulfilled when the aggregate
amount of the two clauses was ex-
pended and they not be compelled to
erect buildings, etc., worth 500, as
many are satisfied with $500 build
ings and put the balance of money
into the cultivation of the soil. Now,
the Senators voted that this condition
shall be deemed to have been substan-
TALLY performed when improvements
(buildings and fences) shall have been
made on such premises, an addition to
the Is per cent. above set forth, to the
aggregate amount of $500 In other
words, the condition of the old lease
are enacted, and cannot be fulfilled
until after 10 per cent. mot 81 is plant
ed, as it states Sin addition to the 10
per cent" II the $500 was permitted
20 be used in cultivation of the soil,
it would not be as good as the House
bill, as they make all equal and the
Senate does not. In Olaa the average
cost of reducing an acre to cultivation
is about $50; and If the $500 was used
in cultivation, it would mean 10 acres,
and this would mean that a man who
has
so acres must cultivate Is per cent,
plus 90 acres) 20 per cent, equalling
50 per cent.
100 acres must cultivate 10 per cent,
plus 90 acres) 10 per cent, equalling
% per cent.
200 acres must cultivate ID per cent,
plus 10 acres) per cent, equalling
20 per cent.
500 acres must cultivate 10 per cent,
plus 40 acres) 2 per cent, equalling
II per cent.
1000 acres must cultivate ID percent,
plus 90 acres) 1 per cent, equalling
Is per cent.
This is good for the holders of the
large tracts, but not just to the small
Ter holder, "a he is compelled TO plant
more than double the percentage that
the corporation with 1000 acres has to
plant.
The OIaa settlers asked that the go
feet reservation OF woodland that shuts
them off the volcano road be reduced
to $50 feet, as that depth would fulfill
the purpose for which it was reserved
scenery. No one can look through
$50 feet Of OLda jungle. In at least
one instance the com missioDers grant
ed the privilege of cutting this strip
down, and while it was not cut down
entirely, it was reduced in this in
stance to $50, and the lessee now has
100 X $500 feet OF the strip in cultiva-
ton, and has expended $500 on the
same, and now asks TO be allowed TO
purchase that 100 feet; and as the
remainder (l50 feet) will accomplish
that for which the reservation was
made, il Will not be to the detriment
of the Government to grant the same
as the House did. And last, but not
least, the settlers asked that the prices
of land be as follows: First tier of lots
nearest the road, Sc; second, 81 all
others So.
AS before stated, this land costs $50
per acre to get it planted; and in face
of the fact that the success of the crop
il IOrobLemdticdJ, and that the Hon.
Attorney General told the Senate that
il as not the purpose of the Govern
ment to enrich themselves out of first
sale of land, and that the difference
was little TO the Government aud
much to the settler, aud that he favored
the price as passed by the House, in
asmuch as it applied ouly and solely
to present lessees; Notwithstanding,
/ say, all these facts, the solOns OF the
upper House, DESTROYS still of help
lug ~ the pioneers, deemed 1t best
that these people who had put their
ALI into T. Is venture should be cinched
whether the venture was successful or
not, and accordingly raiset the prices TO
So. S., So respectively for first, second
and remaining lots. Here l rest my
case, and would be very glad for some
one 10 show me what the Senate has