The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-03-12

House had been made in the Senate
but the latter branch OF the Legis-
lature had finally deemed the pro-
visions of the bill sound and bad pass
ed it. Mr. Smith did not think that
hardship would be result of the bill
should il pass. To his mind it would
work a great amount OF good and
would make the land more valuable
to the holders thereof. There seemed
To be great deal of force in the
argument that the status would he
bettered More thought would be
expended on he occupancy Of land If
the homesteaders were required to DO az
the amendment to the Land Act pro-
posed. Under the present law thought
less persons would take up land for a
little while, get tired an then move
ont. Nothing had been put into the
land and nothing was there TO keep
them.
Rep. Robertson was very much in
favor of adopting the report of the
committee. The $500 exemption law
would not work. According TO the
prOvisfone a man must build house
up the land he occupies before the ex-
piration of two years. Any kind of
q house would cost at least $4,000.
Then a man would have his house aud
his land together as his property. The
result would be that, taking the house
ami lot together he " ould have to pay
taxes for the value of the same which
would be over $500.
Attorney General Smith said that
he had seen certain houses on Hawaii
that had been built for $50.
Rep. Robertson said that that was
the fault of the Government. They
were hampered by the money they
had to pay ON the land, and were un-
able to expend more than $50 on their
houses.
Attorney General Smith said that,
in case of necessity, house could be
built for S. or SO.
Rep. Robertson said that he had
enough OF these kind of houses, if such
they could be called. 1t would be
found a difficult matter to build a
house for very much less than $500.
Rep. Robertson continuing, said
that If the conditions of the present
law were insisted on the hOmesteaders
would have their hands full. Their
cash would be exhausted, and they
would be unable to pay taxes, as was
proposed by the amendment TO the
Land Act. One objection had not
been enlarged upon. The appraise-
ment of land every twenty years was
simply tax on industry aud develop
ment. The more valuable land be-
came the more would be required in
the line of taxes Because the Senate
had seen fit TO pass the bill was no
reason why the House should concur
in such action. Mr.. Robertson bad
spoken with one Senator who had
voted for the bill, and had found that
he was now sorry for doing so.
R-p RycrOft agreed with Rep.
Robertson III the idea that the action
OF the Senate should have nothing To
do it'll The House. The House was
made up of the representatives. of the
people, and should act as such. The
House had got credit for doing some
gond for the Hawaiians by passing the |
Land Act, and now it was proposed to
do away with it inside of SIX months
from date of passage Of the bill. Mr..
RycrOft supported Rep RObertson's
motion to table the bill.
Rep. Kamauoha favored an indefin
lite pOstpOnement of the bill, but he
would second Rep. Robertson's motion
to adopt the report of the committee. |
If tie bill were laid on the table it
could be lifted up again for considera-
ton, but if it were indefinitely post
poned it would be effectually killed.
Rep. Robertson withdrew his mo-
ton to adopt the committees report
and sc conded Rep. Kamauoha's motion
for indefinite pOstponement.
House Bill No. 5, relating to dockets
and records of district magistrates
passed third reading with amend
ments.
Rep. Robertson moved that the re-
port of the committee on Great Seal
be brought up on the order of the day
for Thursday. Carried.
From Minister King.
The Minister of the Interior sent in
his answers to the questions of Rep.
Kamauoha as follows:
First question-Is the Government
thinking of sending for and bringing
in more Chinese and Japanese labor
ers, and if so it is requested to inform
this House as to the number it is in
tending to bring in?
"Auswer to the first questiOn-The
Government has no present Intention
of introducing Japanese laborers un
der the provisions of the labor conven-
ton between this country and Japan.
"The method of introducing jap
anese laborers outside of the said
labor convention is as follows:
"Parties desiring such laborers ap
ply to the Board of Immigration for
approval or allowance of labor con-
tracts for che number OF laborers they
desire. The Board of immigration in
consultation with the Executive
Council decides upon such application.
at cannot be said therefore that
the Government has any definite in
tention of introducing more Japanese
laborers, as such matters are only
decided upon application.
''The same procedure is followed In
regard to applications for the intro
duction of Chinese laborers.
"Second QUESTIONABLE there not
sufficient number of laborers in the
country at the present time for the
work of sugar and rice plantations
and other enterprises, without the
Government procuring any more
laborers? 1t is suitable that the Cab
met should inform this House as to
their ideas in relation to this question
as to laborers.
"Reply to the second question-The
Government is not in possession of
information which would enable it to
answer this question. nor has it means