New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
TERRITORY, OF HAWAII.
SENATOR CuLLoM DISCUSSES THE WORK
OF THE COMMISSION
,,. TERRITORIAL. GOVERNMENT WILL DIFFER
FROM THAT OF THE OTHER TERRIFIC
RlEs-ACQUIS1TIoN or THE ISL
ASDs INEXPENSIVE

ASDs INEXPENSIVE
60 francisco oct. l-Senator Cullom. OF
49,, commissioners sent to Hawaii by the United
s,.,es Government TO examine into the conditions
I'D affairs OF the islands and report as TO the form
:, Government that would he most suitable. and
r. arrived IN this country on the steamer Gaelic
W.. that the Commission has concluded its labors
"a &c a result OF their observations the members
r recommend territorial form OF government
,,ca,en from that Of the territories In the United
s..,es- modified TO sui; the conditions in Hawaii
nhev will give particular attention 70 the changes
..onsearv IN ,hc land. labor and navigation laws
r.ro,or Cullom was averse to going into details
-, the scoDe Of the legislation that will be recon-
mended He said
after arriving at the Hawaiian Islands we met
navy neOple Of various conditions and views whose
continents were learned with interest. We visited
che different islands of the group for the purpose
- s,udving their resources and capabilities and
,he social and domestic conditions of their lnhaoi-
,en,s We were particularly interested In ascer-
,e,,,ne the temper Of the people toward the uhteo
States IA,
I'VE investigated the situation carefully, with
xAw OF determining the questions We were specially
charged with-what legislation In our Judgment We
orght 10 recommend Congress 10 enact 10 make the
hest government for the newly acquired territory
,cVhile the committee has substantially deter
mined the nature Of the legislation that ought 10
ne recommended TO Congress II is still not disposed
N consider the subject entirely closed for the rea-
am that the report has not yet been written. ana
Or tho further reason that the two island members
NJ the Commission. J. G. Frear and President Dole
.,,Ac, to come on to Washington in November.
when l. as chairman. intend to make a report to
.be full Commission. after which the bill and re-
nort will be submitted the President and to Con-
eress when Il convenes.
81 have stated that the Commission will undoubt-
sdly recommend a territorial form Of government
byi not the ordinary form that we have usually
sdopted for the MANAGEMENT OF our home terrific
res the conditions being so different in the matter
Of location and constituency.
There are many interests TO provide for some
do not want the navigation laws changed. They
prefer to permit shipping advantages 10 he &C
corded TO others besides our country. We have
likewise received petitions asking that none save
American registered vessels be permitted to trade
between the islands and other American ports.
zone OF the most important questions Is that OF
contract labor importation. / think that the laws
now in force in the United States Will apply 10 Ha-
wall as well 1t would not do to have laws radi-
cally different for little patch Of country. In
Hawaii those interested say they are attempting
since annexation to prevent the importation of
large numbers Of japanese and Chinese under labor
contracts Maybe they are, but | know that on
the steamer we came up on there arrived from
Japan six hundred japanese. 1t seems probable
that they are rushing in now. In anticipation OF a
change Of immigration laws
In response to a question as to his views upon the
acquisition of Hawaii, Senator Cullom replied
II say unqualihedly that ! have never mad any
doubt about the wisdom of annexing the Hawaiian
group 10 the United States Their Importance &c
us is great, both from a commercial and naval pOinl
OF view. The controlling element in their popula-
ton is thoroughly interested and In sympathy with
the United States. They to-day substantially
as good Americans are those upon the mainland
Many OF them are really natives Of this country
while the real Hawa iians seem to be an honest
harmless good-natured people. not particularly
fond OF work but of such a peaceabe. AMIGA Die
disposition as 10 be unlikely to cause any serious
trouble to the Powers that be. whether foreign or
domestic.
The acquisition Of these islands will be en-
tirey inexpensive 10 the United States They will
undoubtedly instead Of proving costly, become
vastly profitable 10 this Government, in the mat
ter OF commerce with our Western coast, and as a
protection 10 il in of military necessity.
When asked what he thought about the reten-
ton Of the Philippines. the Senator replied: Il have
only this 10 say. In a general sense | am In favor
Of greater America: and ] should be unwilling To
pull down the American flag wherever II had been
legitimately raised. am disposed. however, TO
say that prefer not 10 make any specific declare
ton I'm the premises further ,han / have until the
Commission appointed by President Mckinley for
the purpose shall have made a report 70 the Chief
Executive and Congress on the question whether
We shall insist upon retaining possession OF all the
Islands or only portion.