The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-06

ceded territory into the Union, was
adopted by the congress and approved
July Z. 1898 [ thereupon directed the
United States steamer Philadelphia to
convey Rear Admiral Miller to Homo
lulu and entrusted to his hands this
important legislative act, to be deliv-
cred to the president of the republic OF.
Hawaii with whom the admiral and the
United States minister were authorized
to make appropriate arrangements for
transferring the sovereignty of the is
lands to the United States. This was
simply but impressively accomplished
on the 18th day of August last, by the
delivery of & certified copy OF the reso-
luton to President Dole, who there
upon yielded up to the representative
of the government of the United States
the sovereignty and public property of
/ the Hawaiian islands.
Pursuant to the terms of the joint
resolution and in exercise of authority
thereby conferred upon me, directed
that the civil, judicial and military
powers heretofore exercised by the
officers of the government of the repub-
lie of Hawaii should continue to be eX-
erciSed by those officers until congress
shall provide a government fQr the in
corporated territory, subject to my
power to remove such officers and to
fill vacancies. The president, officers
and troops of the republic thereupon
took the oath of allegiance to the
United States, thus providing for the
uninterrupted continuance of all the
administrative and municipal functions
of the annexed territory until congress
shall otherwise enact.
Following the further provision of the
| joint resolution I appointed the Hon
CRADLES Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois,
John T. Morgan of Alabama, Robert r.
| Hit of Illinois, Sanford 3. Dole of
Hawaii and Walter F. Grier of Hawaii,
| as commissioners to confer and recon-
mend to congress such legislation con-
corning the Hawaiian islands as they
should deem necessary or proper. The
commissioners, having fulfilled the mis-
! sion confided to them, their report will
| be laid before you at an early day. 1t
| is believed that their recommendations
will have the earnest consideration due
to the magnitude of the responsibility
resting upon you to give such shape to
the relationship of those mid-Pacific
lands to our home union as viii benefit
both in the highest degree, realizing the
aspirations of the community that has
cast its lot with us and elected to share
i our political heritage while, at the same
time, justifying the foresight of those
who for three-quarters of a century
have looked to the assimilation Of
Hawaii as a natural and inevitable
Z COIoQillHl III ilol 4HOlly Will our
! needs and in fulfllment of our cher
ished traditions.
The questions heretofore pending be-
tween Hawaii and Japan, growing out
of the alleged mistreatment of Japanese
| treaty immigrants were, I am pleased
to say, adjusted before the act of trans
fer by the payment of a reasonable in
demnity to the government of Japan.
Nnder the provisions of the joint res
olution, the existing customs relations
! of the Hawaiian islands with the
United States and with other countries
remain unchanged until legislation
shall otherwise provide. The consuls
1 of Hawaii, here and in foreign coun-
tries, continue to fulfill their CONNER
cial agencies, while the United States
consulate at Honolulu is maintained
for all proper services pertaining to
trade and the revenue. It would be de-
sirable that all foreign consuls in the
| Hawaiian islands should receive new
exequators from this government.
The attention of congress is called to
the fact that our consular offices having
ceased to exist in Hawaii and being
Iiabout to cease in other countries COM
ing under the sovereignty of the United
States, the provisions for the relief and
transportations of destitute American
seamen in these countries under our
l consular regulations will, in conse-
uuence, terminate. 1t is proper. there
fore, that new legislation should be en-
acted upon this subject in order to
meet the changed conditions.