The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-01
HAWAII AS A TERRITORY.
THE c~oMhIsSIoS RETURNS WITH A
DRAFT OF 4 BILL

Commissioners Pleased with Their Trip.
BAN FRANcIsoo, Sept, 30.-Hawaii is to come
into the United States as q Territory. accord
Ina 10 the plans agreed upon by the commis-
sion. which returned to-day from Its visit to
the islands. In q despatch box, which 10 care
fully guarded by the SerReant-at-Arne, lies a
draft OF d bill for the Government OF the
new Territory. It was carefully considered
by the entire commission, section by section,
and while it has not yet received final approval
It contains all the salient features which Will
be found in the report to be madeb by the COM
mission to Congress at the opening OF the
session In December.
& The American members OF the Hawaiian
Commission arrived In this city to-day by the
steamer Gaelic. after nearly two months ABB
.sence. They will meet again In Washington
on Nov. IA. after election. when they viii be
joined by the Hawaiian members, who are
expected to come to this. country about the
first OF next month. The American members
will insist on the work OF tho body being I'm
ished by Dec. i. as they believe that the anom-
alous condition OF affairs should be altered as
soon as possible.
They refuse to discuss the result OF their
labors except In the most general terms.
They say they are perfectly satisfied with the
developments.
ASIDE from the Renetal uoVoEmlnSuou W
make the form OF the new government terri
torial there were many questions which were
difficult of settlement. and some Of these are
still;open. Not the least Of these is that Of suf-
frage, On the general question 1t was agreed
that citizens OF the islands should vote freely.
but when It. came to the determination OF the
qualification for electors who will cho ose
member Of the upper house Of the Legisla-
ture. the Senate. It was insisted by the island
ers that there should be q money qualification.
This was finally put In the tentative draft OF
the bill at $1,000 assessed valuation or $1,000
worth Of property. This will reduce the num-
Der Of electors who can vote for members OF
the Senate materially.
The question of'contract labor was another
which called for many conferences. As the
bill now stands 1t provides that there shall be
granted to the planters ten years In which they
shall be required to change from the contract
to the free labor plan. One concession. which
may open the way to further discussion. was q
provision that there shall be imported for all
m Oriental labor for the rice fields. The
sugar planters are emphatic In their opinion
that this condition is necessary to enable them
to carry or the production Of sugar.
Since the closing Of the meetings of the COM
mission many planters are said to have found
what the plans OF the commission are rs to
labor and legislative problems. and 1t is said
that there will be many Hawaiians in the ma
tional capital when Congress takes up these
questions for settlement.
As to the land laws. there will be few changes.
The Commissioner are united in the belief
that the present laws which prevent the TAX
inE up OF large holdings and their consoHda-
ton are most beneficial and adapted tothe con-
ditions OF the country. As to the crown lands.
1t Ii understood that there Will be o settle
ment with the late Queen on q basis to be
agreed upon. the negotiations to be conducted
By Q commissioner nom this country who has
no bias. One Of the provisions in the new act
does away with the fishing laws which have
been a feature OF Hawaiian tenure. Accord
ing to the native plan. the holder OF riparian
rights controlled the fishing privileges for one
mile out to sea. By the commissions plan the
sea will be open to fishermen from every point.
1t was urged upon the commission that the
navigation laws OF this country should not be
extended to the islands now. but that ships OF
every nation should be allowed to trade with
the islands. The commission will not allow
this. according to present plans. but there is a
chance that the Hawaiian members Of the
commission will be able to bring pressure to
bear when they arrive that will result In this
concession to foreigners In the islands.
Every local revenue institution will be turned
over to the American executive department
having such matters in charge at once and the
disestablishment OF the postal savings bank
will be Immediately accomplished, unless,
after o conference with the authorities in
Washington. 1t is thought wise to continue 1t
as an experiment. There will be q provision
for q revenue cutter service and also for an In
tesnal revenue service in the islands at once.
It is known that the system OF courts is TO
be radically changed. 30 Is to permit OF dis
tinct city and territorial government. which
will also revolutionize the police and military
systems.
In the report which Is to accompany the bill
II is said that two features will be OF great mo-
ment. One Is q clause which will urge an ap-
preparation for opening the reef which shuts
out vessels from Pearl Harbor. The men,
bers of the commission. when they visited tho
hArbor. were enthusiastic over It's possibili-
ties. Taken in connection with the fact that
the harbor of Honolulu contains only seventy
i've acres Of anchorage room. 1t Ii argued that
the wider area of Pearl Harbor Ia necessary