The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-02
HAWAII'S GOVERNMENT
ITS FORM TO BE SIMILAR TO THAT
APPLIED TO OUR TERRITORIES.
Modifi ca tions Necessary to Meet the
Peculiar Conditions i'm the Islands
Talk with Senator CullOm.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 1ESenator Gull
lom, one of the commissioners sent to Ha-
waii by the United States government to
examine into the conditions and affairs of
the islands and report as to the form of
government that would be most suitable,
and who arrived in this country on the
steamer Gaelic. says that the commission
has concluded it's labors and as result of
their observations they will recommend a
territorial form of government. different
from that of the Territories in the United
States-modified to suit the conditions in
Hawaii. They will give particular atten-
ton to the changes necessary in the land,
labor and navigation laws.
Senator Cullom was averse to going into
details on the scope of the legislation that
will be recommended. He said: AFTER ar
irving at the Hawaiian islands, we met
many people of various conditions and
views whose sentiments were learned with
interest. We visited the different islands of
the group Tor the purpose of studying their
resources and capabilities, and the social
and domestic condition of their inhabitants.
We were particularly interested in ascer-
tanning the temper of the people toward the
United States We investigated the situa-
ton carefully, with view of determining
the questions we were specially charged
with-what legislation in our Judgment we
ought to recommend Congress to enact TO
make the best government for the newly
acquired territory.
while the committee has substantially
determined the nature of the legislation
that ought to be recommended to Congress,
it is still not disposed to consider the sub
ject entirely closed. for the reason that the
two island members of the commission
Judge Frear and President Dole-expect
to come on to WASHINGTON IN November,
when l. as chairman, intend to make a re-
port to the full commission, after which the
bill and report will be submitted to the
President and to Congress when it convenes.
L have stated that the commission will
undoubtedly recommend a territorial form
of government, but not the ordinary form
that we have usually adopted for the man
agenent of our home territories, the con-
ditions being different in the matter Of
location and constituency. There are many
interests to provide for. Some do not want
the navigation laws changed. They prefer
to permit shipping advantages to be accord
ed to others beside our country. We have
likewise received petitions asking that none
but American registered vessels be per-
mitted to trade between the islands and
other American ports.
One of the most important questions is
that of contract labor importation think
will apply to Hawaii well. 1t would not
do to have laws radically different for one
little patch of country. In Hawaii those in
terested say they are attempting. since an
nexation. to prevent the importation of large
numbers of Japanese and Chinese under
labor contracts. Maybe they are but /
know that on the steamer we came upon
there arrived from Japan six hundred jap
anese 1t seems probable that they are
rushing in now in anticipation of a change
in the immigration laws.