The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-12-08
A TERRITORY
Report Of the Hawaiian Commits,
sion Is Submitted to
Congress
Recommends Giving the Islands
the Territorial Form Of
Government.
Legislature to Be. Elected and
Governor Appointed by the
President.
Property, Income or Educational
Qualification Essential to the
Franchise.


WASHINGTON, Dec. THE president
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
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-
GUS 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 a 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 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 territory of the United States
to be styled l
The Territory of Hawaii.
The bill contains provisions for the gov
eminent of the territory, giving it exec
utive, legislative and judicial officers.
A governor, secretary Of the territory, a
United States district judge, United
States district attorney and a United
States marshal are to be appointed by
the president. An internal revenue dis
trict and 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 un-
der the new regime are an 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
Of Of nd
and duties regarding licenses, corpora
tions, and companies and partners ships
and registration of prints, labels and
trade marks as are now possessed by the
minister of the interior, except as
changed; also superintendent of pub
lie works, a superintendent of public
instruction, an auditor and a deputy
auditor a surveyor, 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 ap-
pointed by the governor.
Citizenship Defined.
Probably the most important portion,
of the bill is Sec. 2, defining citizenship,
which provides that ''all white persons,
Including Portuguese and persons of
African descent. and all persons de-
scending from the Hawaiian race, on
either the paternal or maternal side, who
were citizens of the rer ublic 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 legislature to
consist of two houses, and the senate to
consist of 10 members, as at present,
and 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 general election to be held on
the Tuesday after the first Monday in
November, 1899, and biennially there
after. The supreme court is to be the
sole judge of the legality of election to
seat in either house in case of contest
No member of the legislature is to be
eligible for appointment or election to
any Office of the territory, and no officer
or employee, notary public or agent OF
the territory is to be eligible to election
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 to
register as such voter, shall have 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 q mile for tgdl liF.
There are ropeI ar s2i e.
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 longer term than |
five years, unless congress shall direct.
81 s.tl q &, g5sssss. III
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