Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01
NEW LAWS FOR HAWAII
Modified Territorial Form of Govern
ment Recommended.
| THE COMMISSIONS CONCLUSIONS
A Bill Has Been Prepared for APP
provaI by the President.
WHAT MR.. CULLOM SAYS

SAN FRANCISCO, October 1.-Senator
Cullom. one of the commissioners sent to
Hawaii to examine into the conditions and
affairs of the islands and report to the gov
eminent what would be most suitable, and
who has arrived in this country on the
steamer Gaelic, says that the commission
has concluded its labor and as a result of
their observations they will recommend
territorial form of government different
from that of the territories of the United
States modified to suit the conditions in
Hawaii They will give particular atten
ton to the changings necessary in the land,
labor and navigation laws.
Senator Cullom was averse to going into
details of the scope of the legislation that
will be recommended. He said:
After arriving at the Hawaiian Islands
we met many people of various conditions
and views. whose sentiments were learned
with interest We visited the different ISL
ands of the group for the purpose of study
ing their resources and capabilities and the
social and domestic condition of the in
habitantS. We were particularly interested
in ascertainng the temper of the people
toward the United States.
Commissions Conclusions.
I'VE investigated the situation carefully
with a view of determining the questions
we were specially charged with-what legis
latiOn, in our Judgment we ought to rec
ommend Congress to enact to make the best
government for the newly-acquired territory.
While the committee has substantially
determined the nature of the legislation
that ought to be recommended to Congress,
1t is still not disposed to consider the sub
ject entirely closed, for the reason that the
report has not yet been written, and for
the further reason that two island men,
berS Of the commission, j. G.. Frear and
ington in November, when |, as chairman,
intend TO make a report to the full commit
tee, after which the bill and report will be
submitted to the President and to Congress
when it conveneS.
81 have stated that the commission will
undoubtedly recommend a territorial form
of government. but not the ordinary form
that we have usually adopted for the man
agement Of our home territories, the con-
ditions being so different in the matter of
location and constituency.
There are many interests to provide for.
Some do not want the navigation laws
changed, They prefer to permit shipping
advantages to be accorded to others besides
our country. We have likewise received
petitions asking that none but American
registered vessels be permitted to trade
between the islands and other American
ports.
Contract Labor Importation.
Zone of the most important questions is
that of contract labor importation. l think
that the laws now in force in the United
States will apply to Hawaii well. 1t
would not do to have laws radiclly differ
ent for one little patch of country. In Ha-
wall those interested say they are attempt
ing since annexation to prevent the impor-
tation of large numbers of Japanese and
Chinese under labor contracts. May be
they are, but | know that on the steamer
We came upon there arrived from Japan
600 japanese. 1t seems probable that they
are rushing in now in anticipation of a
change Of immigration laws.
In response 10 a question as to his views
upon the acquisition of Hawaii, Senator
Cullom replied:
Il say unqualifiedly tha- 1 have never had
any doubt of the wisdom of anneXing the
Ha waiian group to the United States. Their
Importance to us is great. both from COM
mercial and naval point of view. The con-
trolling element in their population is
thoroughly interested and in sympathy
with the United States. They today
substantially good Americans as are
those upon the Inainlnd.
MANY of them are really natives of this
country. The real Hawaiians seem to be
an honest, harmless. good-natured people,
not particularly fond of work. but of such
peaceable. arnicabe disposition as to be
quite unlikely to cause any serious trouble
to the powers that be, whether foreign or
domestic.
A Military Necessity.
The acquisition of these islands will be
an entirely inexpensive enc to the United
States. They will undoubtedly. instead of
proving costly. become vastly profitable to
this government, in the matter Of commerce
with western coast and as protection
TO 1t in case of military necessity"
Being asked what he thought about the
retention of the Philippines, the senator re-
piled:
Il have only this to say. In a general
sense | am i'll favor of greater America, and
l should be unwilling to pull down the
American flag wherever il had been lesiti-
matey raised. | disposed, however,
10 say that / prefer not to make any spe-
citic declaration in the premises further
than | have until the commission appoint
ed by President Mckinley for the purpose
shall have made report to the chief eX
ecutive and Congress on the question
whether We shall insist upon retaining pos
ST ssion of all the islands only a por-
ton"