The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-07

has transmitted to congress the report
of the Hawaiian commission, consisting
of Senators Cullom and Morgan, Repre-
sentative Hit, President Dole and Judge
Frear of Hawaii. together with the text
of the bills drawn by the commission
for the government Of the islands as a
portion of the United States. The pre-
liminary portion of the report is mainly
descriptive of the Hawaiian Islands. the
Inhabitants. the existing institutions,
the public domain, productions, climate.
harbors and shipping facilities and vari-
ous conditions of general interest. The
remaining portion is mainly devoted to
the discussion Of the legislation proposed
by the commission, giving in the appen.
dix the various reports of subcommit-
tees suggested.
Three Bills Drawn.
Three bills are formulated for the
consideration Of congress. The first and
principal one outlines 4 general plan of
government, and the other two deal
with subordinate questions. Of the
main bill. the commissioners express
the opinion that it will prove to be
''such a measure for the government of
the Hawaiian island as will best pro-
mote the interests of their people at the
same time that it promotes the interests
and maintains the sovereignty of the
people of the United States.",
1t provides for the erection of the isl.
ands into a territory of the United States
to be styled
The Territory Of Hawaii.
The bill contains provisions for the gov
rnmen of the territory. giving it exec
utive. legislative and judicial officers.
a governor. secretary of the territory, a
United States district judge, a United
States district attorney and a United
States marshal are to be appointed by
the president. An internal revenue dis
trict and a customs district are created.
The offices of president. minister of for.
eign affairs. finance, public instruction,
auditor general, deputy auditor general,
surveyor general. and marshal are abOl.
ished. The officers Of the territory IN.
der the new regime are IN attorney
general, with similar powers and duties
as now possessed by the attorney gen.
eral of the republic of Hawaii. with
a few exceptions: a treasurer, with
similar powers and duties to the present
minister of finance, and such powers
and duties regarding licenses. corpora.
tions. and companies and partnerships
and registration Of prints, labels and
trade marks as are now possessed by the
minister of the interior, except al
changed: also a superintendent Of pub
lie works. q superintendent, of, public
instruction, an auditor and atdeputy
auditor. a surveyor, with the powers
and duties Of a surveyor general, and a
chief sheriff. to succeed to the duties oi
marshal of the republic, all to be ap.
pointed by the governor. -
Citixenship Defined.
Probably the most important portion
of the bill is Sec. 9, defining citizenship
which provides that ''all white persons
including Portuguese and persons Of
African descent. and all persons de-
scending from the Hawaiian race, or
either the paternal or maternal side, who
were citizens Of the rerublic Of Hawaii,
Immediately prior to the transfer Of the
sovereignty thereof to the United States
are hereby declared to be citizens Of the
United States"
The Legislature.
Provision is made for a legislature tc
consist Of two houses, and the senate tc
consist of IL members, as at present
and a house Of representatives. consist,
ing of 30 members, double the member
ship Of the house under the Hawaiian
republic. The members are to"be elect
ed at a general election to be held on
the Tuesday after the first Monday il
November, 1899, and biennially there
after. The supreme court is to be thu
sole Judge of the legality of election K
q seat in either house in case of contest
No member Of the legislature is to bl
eligible for appointment or election ia
any Office of the territory, and no Officer
or employee, notary public o. agent Of
the territory is to be eligible to e~lectioG
as a legislator. There is also a provis
ion that no person who, having been en-
titled to qualify and vote prior to Octo.
Der, 1897, and since July, 1894, failed t.
register as such voter shall have a vote
unless he shall take an oath to support
the constitution Of the United States
The sessions of the legislature are linn.
tied to 60 days in duration, and each
member is allowed $500 as salary and
10 cents a mile for travelling expenses.
There are property or income and ed
vocational qualifications for the fran.
chise.
The bill provides also for delegate
to congress.
The laws of Hawaii relating to public
or government lands continue in force
until changed by congress, but no leases
of agricultural lands are to be granted,
sold or renewed for a longer term than
five years, unless congress shall direct.