Evening star., 1898-08-25
MET AT HONOLULU
Hawaiian Commission Reached Des-
tination August II.
TOOK OATH OF OFFICE FHE NEXT DAY
Senator CuIlom Was Elected Chair
man by His Associates.
C0U RTESIES FROM DOLE

| SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, August 5-The
| steamship Moana arrived here today from
| Australian ports via Honolulu. An Asso-
| ciated Press correspondent writes from
| Honolulu under date of August Is, as fol-
| lows:
| The congressional members of the COM
| mittee TO report on a form of government
| for the territory of Hawaii arrived August
| II on the Mariposa
| The three commissioners met President
| Dole and his cabinet at the executive build
/ ing by appointment. The compliments of
| the president and his colleagues had been
| sent to the United States senators and the
| representatives, earlier in the day.
| Took the Oath.
| Today the commission met at the home
Of Justice Frear to qualify as members by
| taking an oath. AS seen as the members
We're regularly listed the commission pro-
| ceeded to elect a secretary, stenographer
| and a sergeant-at-arms. Sena tor Culom
| Is chairman. The men for the clerical po-
| siuons and the sergeant-at-arms have been
brought from Washington.
| As soon as the formalties 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
| th1cne room In the executive building and
there held the opening business session.
| This week the commission will visit the
| island Of Hawaii They will be on the big
| island six or seven days. The commission
! VIII later make trips to Maui and Kauai
| and may also visit Molokai
| Sessions in Private.
| Senator Cullom said that the sessions OF
! the commission would be private except
| ing when there were hearings. When indi-
V'duals or delegations wish to present
| views or open UP discussions, either in per-
| son. by spokesman or by attorney the hall
| viii 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 will not be
| OF secret nature, but 1t is felt the busi-
| ness can be transacted more eXpeditiously
| and better in every way by having closed
! doors.
1t is likely, according to Senator Cullom,
| that there will be prepared by the COM
mission one organic act corresponding
| to the constitution of a state describing
| the territory, the manner, method and lin
| itations of legislation. This organic act
viii be supplemented by many congress-
! iCnal laws bearing upon customs, land. tax
alton, the judiciary, etc. Is is by no means
contemplated that there shall be any radi-
cal changes in the system here.
The Commission's Scope.
! Senator Morgan, in an interview, said:
"As to thu scope of the commission s
| work? That is rather a leading question,
| but l can answer it by referring you to
| the Newlands resolution. We shall keep
within the bounds laid down in that reso-
| luton ard, mark you, we are not going to
| make any new laws for you, or institute
! any radical changes. Our duties are large
ly, If not wholly, advisory, and we shall
| confine our work as much as possible to
| that line"
Speaking of the work OF the last legis-
| lature the senator said, referring especial
ly to the loan act:
1T does not follow that such a law
would fall through. The United States has
| assumed Si,OO0,o0O of your debt, but there
| Is no reason why you are stopped from
| incurring any more. We have allowed all
| the territories to pass laws authorizing the
| Issuing of bonds for Internal improvements,
| subject, of course, to congressional super
| vision. and l know of no reason why Ha-
wall should be excluded from doing 50.
| The United States having assumed the
| bulk Of your debt, you should be in better
! financial condition than most of the terri
| tories. and you understand that hereafter
| any laws you pass Will be subject to the
| approval of Congress-.
The steamship Lakme arrived today.
| bringing Mai Langfitts Sd Battalion of the
| I'd Regiment United States Volunteers.
There Is soon to be telegraphic communi-
| cation between The islands of this group. A
| cable connecting the islands with one an
| other is to be laid almost immedia tely.
One of the duties of the engineer corps
| that is now here--the Sd Battalion of the
| I'd Regiment, United States Volunteer En-
| gineers-will be the construction of an in
| ter-sland cable system.
| The fact that the government intends to
! proceed at once with the work is pretty
| conclusive that the franchise for a cable
| from the coast to Honolulu will not be long
| delayed.