The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-07
THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII.
HAWAIIAN COMMISSION REPORTS
ON PROPOSED GOVERNMENT.


With Many of Those Formerly in
Charge-President Dole Makes
Only One Kick-Three Bills Form
nIated-Hawaiian Currency to Be
Taken Care oE-QuaIificatiOns for
Representatives and Office Hold
crs.
washington, Dec. 6.-The President to-
day transmitted to Congress the report
of The Hawaiian commission, consisting
of Senators Cullom and Morgan, Repre-
sentative Hit President Dole and Justice
Frear of Hawaii together with the text
of bills drawn by the commission 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 ISL
ands. the inhabitants, the existing institu-
tons, the public domain, productions, eli
mate, harbors and shipping facilities, and
various conditions of general interest.
The remaining portion as mainly devot-
ed to discussion of the legislation pro-
posed by the commission in the appendix
to the various reports of subcommittee.
and copies of the bills suggested.
Three bills are formulated for the con-
sideration of Congress. The first and
principal one outlines a general plan of
government and the other two deal with
subordinate questions.
1t provides for the erection of the ISL
ands into territory of the United States
to be styled the territory of Hawaii. The
bills contain provisions for the govern
ment of the territory, giving it execu-
tive legislative and judicial officers. A
governor secretary of the territory,
a United States district judge, a United
States district attorney and a United
States marshal, are to be appointed 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
general and marshal are abolished.
The officers of the territory under the
new regime are an attorney general, with
similar powers and duties as now possess
ed by the attorney general of the republic
of Hawaii with few exceptions; treas
urer. with similar powers and duties to the
present minister of finance, and such pow
ers and duties regarding the licenses, cor
porauons and companies and partnership
and registration of prints, labels ana
trademarks as are now possessed by the
ed; also a superintendent of public works,
a superint endent of public instruction, an
auditor and deputy auditor, surveyor,
with the powers and duties of surveyor
general. and a chief sheriff to succeed to
the duties of marshal or the republic, all
to be appointed by the governor.
Probably the most important portion of
the bill is section four, defining citizen
ship which provides that can white per
sons. including Portuguese and persons of
African descent and all persons descend
ed from the Hawaiian race, on either the
paternal or maternal side, who We're clti-
zens of the republic Hawaii Immediately
prior to the transfer of the sovereignty
thereof to the United States, are hereby
declared to be citizens of the United
States.
Provision is made for legislature to
consist of two houses, a Senate to consist
of fifteen members as at present and
House of Representa- tives, consisting of
thirty members, double the membership of
the House under the Hawaiian 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 thereafter. The Supreme
Court is to be the sole judge of the legal
ity of election to a seat in either house
in case of a contest. The sessions of the
legislature are limited TO sixty days in
duration and each member is allowed 800
as salary and 10 cents mile for travel
ing expenses.
a senator is required to be a male citi-
zen of The United States, 80 of age, to have
resided in the territory three years, be
the owner in his own right of 81 900 worth
OF property or to have during the pre-
ceding year received 81 coo income.
Representatives must be % years old,
male citizen must have lived three years
in Hawaii and must either own $500
worth of property or have an income of
$3.50 a year.
The bill also provides for the election
of delegate to the House of Representa-
lives in Congress by the voters qualified
to vote for representatives in the legis.a-
ture, this delegate 10 possess the same
powers and privileges now accorded 90
other delegates in Congress.
The bill provides that The constitution
and laws of the United States locally APP
plicabie, shall have the same force and ef-
feet in the territory of Hawaii as else
where in the United States. This is the
usual provision found in the acts of Con-
gress providing for the establishment OF
territorial governments in the United
states, bur the commissioners regard the
provision as exceptionally important IN
this bill for many reasons, among which
they mention the continued importation
OF coohe labor into Hawaii
the commissioners take pains to express
Their united opinion that the plan outlined
Tor the government of Hawaii cannot be
regarded as a precedent for Porto Rice
and the Philippines.
me report is unanimous except upor
one point Of which President Dole makes
minority recommendation. This recon
mendation is for board of advisers L
the governor of the territory, and he rec.
ommends that the treasurer. Attorney Gen
eraL superintendent of public works, anc
the commissioner Of public lands shall b.
constituted special counsellors of the gov
ernor to be consulted by him concerning
al matters of pubic policy.
1 ne majority in their report express th'
opinion that this precaution is not neces
sary
OF the other two bills. one relates e
Hawaiian silver and treasury notes, ant
the other to postal savings banks in Ha
wall The first provides that unmutilateC
hawaiian silver coins shall be received a
par value in payment of all dues 10 tn,