The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-12-21
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL NOW IN
CONGRESS-.
Five Officers to be Appointed by the
President-Territori Legislation
Citizenship Qualifications for Elector

WASHINGTON, December 6.-Ha-
waii as "a territory under comprehen-
sive system of laws is the aim of bills
now before the committees of both
houses of Congress. President McKin-
lev today sent the report of the Ha-
waiian Commission and the measures
drafted by that body to Congress.
The first portion of the report is
mainly descriptive of the Hawaiian Is
lands. the inhabitants, the existing in
Stitutions, the public domain, produc-
tion, climate, harbors and shipping IA
. cilities, and various conditions of gen.
eral interest. The remaining portion
I is mainly devoted to the discussion OF
the legislation proposed by the com
mission, giving in the appendix the
various reports of subcommittee and
copies of the bill suggested.
Three bills are formulated for the
consideration of Congress. The first
and principal one outlines a general
plan of government and the other two
deal with subordinate questions Of
the main bill the commissioners eX-
press the opinion that it will prove
to be "such a measure for the govern
ment as will best promote the inter-
ests of their people at the same time
that it promotes the interests anh
maintains the sovereignty of the peo-
pie of the United States.'
1t provides for the creation of the
Islands into a territory of the United
States, to be styled the Territory of
Hawaii. The bill contains provisions
for the government of the territory,
giving it executive, Legislative and iu-
dicial officers. a governor, secretary
of the territory. United States dis
trict judge, United States district at
toney and United States marshal are
TO be appointed by the President, and
an internal revenue district and a
customs district are created. The Of
: tices of president, minister of foreign
affairs, finance, public instruction. au-
ditor general, deputy auditor general,
surveyor general and marshal are all
abolished. The officers of the terrific
ry under the new law are an attorney
general, with similar powers and du-
ties as are now possessed by the at
torney general of the Republic of Ha-
Nvaii. with few exceptions; treas
urer, with similar powers and duties
10 the present minister of finance, and
also those of the minister of interior:
superintendent of public works. a
superintendent of public instruction.
an auditor and deputy auditor: a sur.
= veyor with the powers and duties of a
surveyor general, and a chief sheriff
to succeed to the duties of marshal Of
the republic, all to be appointed by
the governor.
Probably the most important por-
ton of the bill is Section 4. defining
citizenship, which provides that "all
white persons, including Portuguese
and persons of African descent and
'Nl persons descending from the Ha-
waiian race on either side paternal .or
maternal, who were citizens of the Re,
public of Hawaii Immediately prior tC
the transfer of sovereignty thereof to
the United States, are hereby declared
TO be citizens of the United States"
Provision is made for a legislature
to consist of two houses, a senate, tC
consist of fifteen members, and a
house OF representatives consisting oi
thirty members. The members are
10 be elected at general election to
be held on the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, 1899, and bien
nially thereafter. The supreme court
rs to be the sole judge of the legality
or election to seat in either house
IN case OF contest
There is also a provision that nc
persons who, having been entitled tc
qualify and vote prior to October
1897, and since July, 1894, failed tc
register as such voter, shall have 6
vote unless he shall take an oath to
support the constitution of the Unit
ed States. The sessions of the legis
aature are limited to sixty days in du
ration, and each member is allowed
S4OO as salary and 10 cents a mile fol
travelling expenses.
A senator is required to be a male
citizen of the United States, 30 year.
of age, to have resided in the territor,
three years, and be the owner in hi,
own right of $4,000 worth of property
or to have during the preceding yea
received $1,000 income. Representa-
tlves must be 25 wears old. male citi