The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-06
PLANS FOR HAWAII
Submitted by the Commission
For Approval of Congress.

Washington, Dec. 6.-The president
today transmitted to congress the re-
port of the Hawaiian commission, con-
sisting of Senators Cullom and Morgan,
Representative Hit, President Dole and
Judge Frear of Hawaii, together with
the text of bills, drawn by the commits
sion for the government of the islands
as a portion of the United States. The
preliminary portion of the report is
mainly descriptive of the Hawaiian is
lands, the inhabitants, the existing in
situations. the public domain, produc-
lions, climate, harbors and shipping IA
cilities and various conditions of gen.
eral interest. The remaining portion Is
mainly devoted to the discussion OF the
legislation proposed by the commission
giving in the appendix, the various re-
ports of subcommittee and copies of
the bills suggested.
Three bills are formulated forthe con-
sideratiOn Of the congress. The first
and principal, 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 a measure for the government of
the Hawaiian islands as will best pro-
mote the interests of their people, at the
Sa me time that 1T promotes the interests
and maintains the sovereignty of the
people Of the United States"
1t provides for the erection of the is
q Oh
States to be styled the territory of Ha-
wall. The bill contains provisions for
the government Of the territory giving
it executive, legislative and judicial Of
fcers. A governor, secretary of the ter
ritOry, a United States district judge,
a United States district attorney and a
United States marshal, are to be APP
pointed by the president and an internal
revenue district and a customs district
are created. The offices of president,
minister of foreign affairs, finance,
public instruction, auditor general,
deputy auditor general, surveyor gen
eral and marshal, are abolished.
The officers Of the territory under the
new regime are an attorney general
with similar powers and duties as now
possessed by the attorney general of the
republic of Hawaii with a few excep-
lions, treasurer with similar powers
and duties to the present minister of
finance and such powers and duties re
garding licenses, corporations and COM
panies and partnerships and -registra-
ton of prints. labels and trademarks
as are now possessed by the minister of
the interior except as changed; also a
superintendent of public works, a super
intendent of public instruction, an audi
tor and a deputy auditor, a. surveyor
with the powers and duties of a sur
VeyOr general and a chief sheriff to
succeed to the duties of marshal of the
republic, all to be appointed by the
Probably the most important portion
of the bill is section ", defining citizen
snip, winch provides that all white per-
sons, including Portuguese and persons
of African descent, and all persons de-
scending from the Hawaiian race on
either the Daternal or maternal side
who were citizens of the republic of Ha-
Wal1 Immediately prior to the transfer
of the sovereignty thereof to the United
States, are hereby declared to be citi-
zens of the United States
Provision is made for a legislature to
consist of two houses, a senate to con-
sist of fifteen members, as at present,
and a house of representatives consist
ing of thirty members, double the mem
bership of the house. under the HaWa-
Ian republic. The members are to be
elected at a 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 a
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 employe, notary republic 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-
tober, 1897, and since July, 1894 and who
failed to register as such voter shall
nave vote unless he shall take an
oath to support the constitution of the
United States. The sessions of the leg
1slature are limited to so days in dura-
ton and each member is allowed $500
as salary and 10 cents a mile for travel
ing expenses.