Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-07

I0THQ
subject to repeal or amenarnent by ,hs
Legislature Of Hawaii or by Congress-
The laws Of Hawaii relating to public
Or government lands continue In force
until changed by Congress, but no
eases OF agricultural lands are to be
granted sold or renewed for a longer
term than five years, unless Congress
shall direct
The laws OF Hawaii relating to a1ri.
culture and forestry are continued IN
force. except as they may be modified
by Congress or the Legislature ana the
secretary Of agriculture is charged
with the duties Of examining the laws
If Hawaii relating to agriculture. fores.
try, public lands and public roads and
reporting thereon to the President.
The bill also provides that the con-
stitution and the laws OF the Tinted
States locally applicable shall have the
same force and effect in the territorv
Of Hawaii and elsewhere in the United
States.
This is the usual provision found in
the acts Of Congress and providing for
the establishment of territorial govern
ments in the United States, but the
exceptionally important in this bill for
many reasons. among which they men,
ton the continued importation of coolie
labor in Hawaii. Upon this point they
say:
The question whether white labor
can be profitably utilized in the sugar
plantations is yet problem, but the
planters are preparing to give such Ia.
Dor trial and some OF them believe II
will prove superior to the labor OF
either Chinese or Japanese
The. commissioners express their uni-
ted opinion that the plan outlined for
the government of Hawaii cannot be
regarded as a precedent for Porto Rico
and the. Philippines, saying on this
point:
The people of Hawaii are capable OF
government and have proved this
by the establishment of the Republic
CT Hawaii and the adoption OF con.
stitution and code Of laws which VIII
compare favOrably with those Of any
other government and under such leg
islation and laws have maintained 4
stable government for several years,
worthy OF free people. The people Of
these islands are more or less familiar
with the institutions and laws Of
the United States while the laws Of the
little republic are largely taken from
the laws of this country. It cannot be
said that either the Porto Ricans or the
Filipinos are at all familiar with our
system Of government or with any 9TH
ar based on the principles OF liberty.
people must be fitted for seH govern
ment before they can be trusted with
the responsibilities and duties attach
,ng to free government
The report is unanimous except upon
one point. on which President Dole
makes a minority recommendation.
This recommendation is for a board Of
advisers to the governor OF the terri
tory. Mr.. Dole fears that without such
provision the governor may arrogate to
himself greater power than is content
plated. II
The governor under the provisions OF
the act recommended by the commits
sion will have less check to his admin
istration of affairs than was the case
with the severeigns under the mori-
archy. excepting only in the matter 81
tenure of office. The majority in their
report express the opinion that the pre-
caution is not necessary, saying that
the history of the territories Of the
United States covering many years OF
experience. has not in the opinion Of
the commission shown necessity for
the creation of any number of advis-
ors"
The report contains an inventory OF
the public property of the republic
which now inures to the United States,
which is of an estimated value of &c.,
1910. distributed as follows: Cow
eminent or public lands. A.147.7O0:
government lots. sites, ETC., s., 4S. 800:
department. property, s4,779,240.
The report gives considerable data In
cegard to the duties collected showing
hat under the Dingley bill, the amount
would have been much greater than 1t
vas
The report recommends the construc-
lion of cable to the islands, to be un-
der the control of the United States,
which it says. sis demanded by the
military conditions existing or liable to
exist at any time
THE Americans. although In such a
small minority, practically dominate
| the governmental affairs of the country
| md, with the British and Germans and
part blood Americans con-
| stitute the controlling element in bus
| mess. The Chinese and Japanese do
| not possess political power, nor have
| they any body polite except as labor
ers. The Portuguese are largely imn1f-
grants from the islands and colonies OF
Portugal in the Atlantic and have
never been very closely tied to their
mother country. With the certain
attrition which is bound to exist be-
| tween them and the Americans in Ha-
wair and under the influence Of the ex-
| listing public school system. which
| makes the study of the English Ian
guage compulsory, they promise to be-
come a good class of people for the
| growth of Republican ideas"
| Ecxayna scaId head hives ftchiness OF