The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-12-15
TO GOVERN HAWAII
President Transmits Report
of the Commission.
THREE BILLS ACCOMPANY IT
First Of These Provides for General Or
ganixation of tho Ter
ritory.

washington, Dec. S.-Th0 presidents
today transmitted to congress the report
Of the Hawaiian commission. together
with the text of bills drawn by the
commission for government of the
islands as pant of the United States.
Three bills are formulated for the con-
sideratiOn of congress. The first and
principal one outlines general plan of
government and the other two deal with
subordinate questions.
The main bill provides for the forma-
ton of the islands into a territory of
the United States, to be styled the ter
ritory of Hawaii. The bill contains
provisions for government of the terri
tory, giving it legislative, executive
and judicial officers. A governor. Sec
rotary Of the territory, United States
district judge, United States district at
torney and United States marshal are to
be appointed by the president and an
internal revenue district and customs
district created.
The offices of president. minister for
foreign affairs, finance, public instruc.
ton, auditor-general,. deputy auditor
general, surveyor general and marshal
are abolished.
The officers of the territory under the
new regime are attorney-general. SUPER
intendent of public works, superintend-
ent of public instruction, auditor and
deputy auditor, surveyor. treasurer, and
chief sheriff. to succeed to the duties
of marshal of the republic, all 10 he APP
pointed by the governor.
Probably the most important portion
of the bill is section 4. defining citizen
ship. which provides: Cali white per-
sons, including Portuguese and persons
of African descent, and all persons de-
scending from the Hawaiian race on
either paternal or maternal side who
were citizens of the republic of Hawaii
Immediately prior to tie transfer of
sovereignty thereof to the United States
are hereby declared citizens of the
United States"
Provision is made for a legislature,
to consist of two houses; a senate, to
consist of Is members, and house Of
representatives, consisting of 80 men,
bers. The members are to be elected
by general election.
Sessions of the legislature are limit
ed to 60 days.
Five registration districts are provid-
ed, and the governor of the territory
is authorized to appoint registration
boards with the advice of the senate.
The bill also provides for the cleo
ton of delegate to the house OF repre-
sentatives in congress, this delegate to
possess the same pc wers and privileges
now accorded to other delegates in con-
gress. The governor is to appoint
chief justice and two associate Justices
of the supreme court, the judges of the
circuit court, the mem bers of the board
of health, commissioners of public in
struction. prison inspectors, boards OF
registration, inspectors of election and
other public offices that may be created
by law and all officers whose salaries
exceed 1000 per annum. Other pro-
visions of the report are as follows:
The governor is to possess the veto
power. but his veto may be overridden
by two-thirds vote of both houses of
the legislature. The legislature is au-
thorized to create town, city or county
municipalities. Foreign goods and ar
ticIes imported into the islands after
July 2, 1898, are, if afterwards brought
into the United States, to pay the same
duty charged upon like articles which
are imported from any foreign country.
Existing laws of Hawaii, not incon-
sistent with the constitution and laws
of the United States or this act. con-
tinue in force subject to repeal or
amendment by the legislature Of Ha-
wall or by congress. The laws of Ha-
waii relating to public or government
lands will continue in force until
changed by congress. Laws relating to
agriculture and forestry are continued
in force.
The bill also provides that the con-
stitution and laws of the United States
locally applicable shall have the same
force and effect in the territory OF
Hawaii as elsewhere in the United
States.