The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-26
DOWN D BUSINESS
Hawaiian Commissioners Set
tie at Once.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
For the Sake of 0isnafch
For the Sake of Dispatch,
Hearings Are Held.

/ San Francisco. Aug S.-Tne steamship
Moana arrived here today from Austria
Ian ports via Honolulu
/ The Associated Press correspondent
writes from Honolulu under date OF Aug
ust IS as follows:
4 The congressional members OF the COM
mission to report on form OF govern
ment for the territory OF Hawaii arrived
August II on the Mariposa.
| The three commissioners met President
| Dole and his cabinet al the executive
/ building by appointment. The com2l-
ments OF the president and his colleagues
had been sent TO the United States sena-
/ tors and the representative earlier in the
day
/ Today the commission met al the home
of Justice Frear 10 qualify as members
| by taking the oath. AS soon as the mem
bers were regularly listed the commi ssion
proceeded TO elect a secretary. a stenog-
rapher and a sergeant-at-arms. Senator
Cullom is chairman. The men for the
clerical positions and the sergeant-at-
arms have been brought from Wash
ington.
AS soon as the formalities at the resi-
dence OF Justice Frear were finished. the
four other members of the commission
adjourned TO the hall OF the house the
old throne room in the executive build
ing, and there held the opening business
session. This week the commission will
visit the island of Hawaii. They viii
be on the big island six or seven days.
The commission will later make trips TO
Maui and Gauai and may also see Molo-
aka.
Senator Cullom said that the session OF
the commission would be private except
when there were hearings. When indi-
viduals or delegations wish 20 present
views or open up discussions. either in
person. by spokesman or by attorney, the
hall vii be open to all The senator gave
the impression that hearings would be
granted to all having any reasonable
claims.
The work of the commission viii not
be OF a secret nature but IL is felt the
business can be transacted more expe-
ditiously and better in every way by hav-
ing closed doors.
1t is likely, according to Senator Cul-
lom. that there will be prepared by the
commission one organic act, correspond
ing TO the constitution OF a state de-
scribing the territory, and the manner,
method and limitations of legislation.
This organic act will be supplemented
by many congressional laws bearing upon
customs, land. taxation. the JudiciSy,
ETC. It is by no means contemplated that
there shall be any radical changes IN the
system here
Senator Morgan in an interview said:
"As to the scope of the commissions
work? That is rather a leading ques-
ton but l can answer n by referring you
to the Newlands resolution. We shall
keep within the bounds laid down In that
resolution and. mark you, We are not go
ing to make any new laws for you or
institute any radical changes. Our duties
are largely. If not wholly. advisory and
we shall confne our work as much as
possible to that line"
Sptaking Of the work OF the last legis-
lature the senator said. referring es-
pecially to the loan act
1T does not follow that such law
would fall through The United States has
assumed 100000 OF your debt but that
is no reason why you are stopped from
mourning any more. We have allowed all
tint territories to pass laws authorizing
the Issuing of bonds for internal improve /
ments, subject. OF course. to congressional [
supervision. and I know OF no reason /
why Hawaii should be excluded from do /
ing so. The United States having as
sumed the bulk OF your debt, you should /
be in better financial condition than most /
Of tht territories and you understand that +
hereafter any laws you pass VIII be sub /
ject to the approval OF congress-
The steamship Lakme arrived today. T
bringing Major Langitt's Third battsl-
ion Of the Second regiment. United States
volunteers.
There IS soon TO b photographic commit
nica,ion between the islands OF this
group. A cable connecting the islands
with one another is 10 be laid almost i'm
mediately. One Of the duties OF tie en-
gineer corps that IS hire now. the Third
battalion OF the Second regiment, United
States Volunteer engineers. viii be me
Of the inter-lsland cable sys-