The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-24
Capital Paper On Rule Of FIXTURE
in Hawaii.
CHANGES NOT TO BE RADICAL
Careful Work of the Commission.
Consideration of Local Con-
ditions- Suffrage.
Washington STAR

washington Starr.
The American commissioners named
by President Mckinley to visit Hawaii
and draft bill for the future govern
ment OF those islands have returned
to this country with what appears,
from the brief outline of their PROPOSE
lions which has thus far been given
to the public, to be a satisfactory and
safe plan of administration. They
have not been kept long abroad. Their
task was difficult, but not beyond the
reach of wise solution. One of the
main arguments raised against the uni
on of the two republics before and re-
peated after annexation was accom-
plished was that it would be next TO
impossible TO adjust the differing CON
ditions existing in the United States
and Hawaii Chaos was freely pre-
dicted as surely to follow union. The
plans OF the commissioners, as thus
far revealed, indicate that this sug
gestion, like most others which were
put forth by the enemies of anneXa-
ton, was a Pigment of the imagination,
baseless in fact, and unjustified even
in theory when the true situation be-
came known.
The purpose of the commissioners is
TO recommend that the islands be gov
erned as a territory, differing some
what in form and relationship to the
states from the already existing Am
erican territories. This difference is
necessary to cover the unusual con-
ditions existing in the annexed group.
What it entails in particular does not
now appear 1t is likewise planned to
adopt a scheme of enfranchisement
which will recognize the widely diver
sified branches of the Hawaiian popu-
lation, drawing the necessary line OF
distinction between the educated, per-
manent inhabitants and the laborers
Imported for commercial uses, as we'll
as the lower orders of foreigners VINO
have of late years been crowded into
the islands for coloniZing purposes. To
enfranchse these differing elements
each upon it's own proper ground re-
uuires a plan of suffrage markedly dis
tinct from the broadly uniform AM
erican plan, and it appears now that
the commissioners have devised pro-
iect which will meet the case IN ia
exact bearings, as revealed TO them II
their investigations.
Aside from the question of govern
ment and acknowledgements comes tn
other and, in some respects, more I'M
portant subject of adjusting the ma
tional laws of the United States L
the conditions now existing in the isl
ands. To apply those laws at on
broad stroke would be manifestly un
inst and unwise Hardships and IN
equities would be worked which mlg1
not be cured in decades. The labo
laws especially require careful consic
Grafton and the navigation laws WI
demand statesmanlike attention. ines
subjects are included in the commits
sioners' plan, which is said to haV
been already outlined in the form
a bill ready for submission to the III
sident. The land laws, the hshln
laws and other important features
the island code are TO be dovetalle
into the American system with III
nimum of friction.
AS far as it stands revealed, II
commissions conclusion has met the
many points of interests and lmpor
ance. Hawaii is to become part OF u
United States on a fair basis of pol
teal relationship and legal admin
tration. The action will not distu1
existing conditions on the malnlar
and will gradually reduce the difte
ences between the insular and conu
entail systems in manner to work u
least degree of injury to estab1sh'
interests. The process OF amalgam
ton has proved thus far, and w
doubtless continue TO prove, easy
management in the hands of the ca
able men 10 whom it has been e
trusted