The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-07

StitutiOn and the laws or the united
States of this act continue in force
subject to repeal or amendment by the
legislature of Hawaii or by congress.
The laws of Hawaii relating to pub
lie or government lands continue in
force until changed by congress, but no
leases of agricultural lands are to be
granted sold or renewed for longer
term than five years unless congress
shall direct. The laws of Hawaii relat-
ing to agriculture and forestry are con-
tinued in force, except as they may be
modified by congress or the legislature
and the secretary of agriculture is
charged with the duties of examining
the laws Of Hawaii relating to agricul-
ture, forestry public lands and public
roads and reporting thereon to the
president.
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
This is the usual provision found in
the acts of congress and providing for
the establishment of territorial gov
ernments in the United States, but the
commissioners regard the provision as
exceptionally important in this bill for
many reasons, among which they men
liOI LlG COHlluueu lllDhI LdtlOIl VI
''coolie" labor into Hawaii. Upon this
point they say:
ut has been the policy of the gov
eminent of Hawaii to import men IN
der labor contracts for term of years,
at the expiration of which they are re-
turned to the countries from which
they came. Those brought in are MAIN
ly from China and Japan. Since The
act of congress annexing Hawaii was
-
ton, the Hawaiian sugar planters have
seemed to be making an unusual eff
fort in regard to the importation of
Japanese laborers, fearing trouble and
embarrassment on account of INSULT
cient labor for the care and carrying
on of their sugar plantations OF course
it becomes necessary to extend our la
Dor laws over the island, so as to pro-
hibit all kinds of foreign contract labor
from coming to the territory The gem
eral laws Of the United States will
place the people of the territory on the
same footing with the people of the
states and of other territories of the
United States in regard to foreign la
Dor The question whether white labor
can be profitably utilized in the sugar
plantations is yet a problem; but the
planters are preparing to give such la
Dor trial, and some of them believe it
either Chinese or Japanese
The commissioners express their I'M
tied opinion that the plan outlined for
the government of Hawaii cannot be
regarded as a precedent for Porto Rico
| and the Philippines; saying on this
point THE people of Hawaii are ca
pable of self government and have
proved this by the establishment Of
| the republic of Hawaii and the adop-
ion Of a ND do NP lou
| which will compare faVorably with
| those of any other government and
under such constitution and laws have
maintained a stable government Cor
| several years, worthy of a free people.
| The people of these islands are more or
| less familiar with the institutions and
| laws of the United States, while me
! laws of the little republic are largely
! taken from the laws of this country.
1t cannot be said that either the Porto
! Ricans or the Filipinos are at all ia
miliar with our system of government
| or with any other based on the prin-
| ciple of liberty. A people must be fit
| ted for self government before they
/ can be trusted with the responsibilities
! and duties attaching to free govern
ment"
The report is unanimous except upon
| one point, on which President Dole
!
| This recommendation is for board of
| advisers to the government of the ter
| ritory, and he recommends that the
| treasurer, attorney general, superln-
| tendent of public works and the COM
missioners of public lands shall be con-
| stituted special counselors OF the gcv-
| ernor, to be consulted by him con-
corning all matters of public policy.
| Mr. Dole fears that without some
| ha ma ~
rogate to himself greater power than
| is contemplated. He says:
| while, with some niSgiVingS, I
| have aSSented to the provisions of the
majority report, which places the ex-
ecutive power of the territory in the
| hands of one individual and do away
with the executive council, I am unable
to accept those which confer upon the
| governor the appointment of all sub
ordinate officers, and which, while Civ
ing him the appointment Of heads OF
| departments, with the approval of the
| senate, permit him to remove them
without such approval, a power not
enjoyed by the president of the United
| States"
Nor can I agree to the absence of
any provision whatever, limiting or
| power under the laws, excepting as to
the approval Of the senate required in
certain appointments
1.-THE weight of these objections will
| be better understood in view of the
| recommendations of the commissioners
| that the legislature shall hold regular
sessions but once in two years, which
| circumstance would furnish the gov
ernor with the opportunity, if he
should choose to seize 1t, of removing
| any or all heads of departments i'm
mediately after the termination of the
regular session of the legislature, and
filing their places with persons whose
| commissions would be invalid until the
end OF the next session of the senate.
| which might not occur for nearly two
years.
The majority, in their report, express
| the opinion that the precaution is not
necessary, saying:
"The history of the territories of the
United States. covering many years
of experience, has not, in the opinion of
! the commission, shown a necessity for
the creation of any number of adyi-
sers.'
| OF the other two bills, one relates ia
Hawaiian silver and treasury notes and
| the other to postal savings banks in
Hawaii. The first provides that the un-
mutilated Hawaiian silver coins shall
be received at par value in payments of
all dues to the government of the ter
ritory of Hawaii and of the United
States and shall not again be issued
but shall on presentation in sums OF
$500 to either government be purchased
and recoined as bullion at the United
States mint at San Francisco. All
Hawaiian silver certificates are to be
redeemed by the territory of Hawaii OF
or before January l, 1902
The other is a bill which repeats the
Hawaiian laws establishing postal
savings banks and directs the secretary
| of the treasury to pay the amounts or
deposits In the postal savings banks in
| Hawaii to the persons entitled thereto
emitting the interest on all deposits n
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