The record-union., 1898-12-07
Income of not less than 5000 during the


tory is authorized to appoint registra-
ton boards, with the advice Of the Sem
ate
The bill also provides for the election
of delegate to the House of Repre-
sentatiyes in Congress by the voters
qualified to vote for representatives in
the Legislature, this delegate to possess
the same powers and privileges now ac-
corded to other delegates in Congress.
The Governor is to appoint a Chief
Justice and two Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court, the Judges of the
Circuit Court, the members of the
Board of Health, Commissioners of
Public instruction, Prison Inspectors,
Boards of Registration, Inspectors of
Election and other public boards that
may be created by law and all officers
whose salaries exceed $1,000 per an
num-
Other provisions of the bill are as
follows:
The Governor is to possess the veto
power, but his veto may be overridden
by tWo-thirds vote of both houses Of
the Legislature
The Legislature is authorized to Gre
ate town, city or county municipalities.
Foreign goods and articles imported
into the islands after July Z, 1898, are,
II afterward brought into the United
States, to pay the same duties charged
upon like articles when imported from
any foreign country. The existing laws
of Hawaii not inconsistent with the
Constitution and the laws of the United
States or this Act continue in force,
subject to repeal or amendment by
the Legislature of Hawaii or by Con-
gress.
The laws of Hawaii relating to pub
lie lands continue in force until chang
ed by Congress, but no leases or agri-
cultural lands are to be granted, sold
or renewed for longer term than five
years unless Congress shall direct.
The laws of Hawaii relating to agri-
culture and forestry are continued in
force, except as they may be modified
by Congress or the Legislature. and
the Secretary of Agriculture is charged
with the duties of examining the laws
of Hawaii relating to agriculture, for
estry, public lands and public roads,
and report thereon to the President.
The bill also provides that the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States
locally applicable shall have the same
force and effect in the Territory of Ha-
waii as elsewhere in the United States.
This is the usual provision found in
the Acts of Congress providing for the
establishment of Territorial govern
ments in the United States, but II
Commissioners regard the provision a.
exceptionally important in this bill for
many reasons, among which they men
tion the continued importation of
Chinese labor into Hawaii Remarking
on this point, they say:
1T has been the policy of the Gov
ernment of Hawaii, before and since
the establishment of the republic, to
| import men under labor contracts for
a term of years, at the expiration Of
which they are to return to the coun-
tries from which they came. Those
brought in are mainly from China and
Japan. Since the Act of Congress an
nexing Hawaii was passed prohibiting
Chinese immigration, Hawaiin sugar
planters have scented to be making an
unusual effort in securing the importa-
tion of Japanese laborers, fearing
trouble and embarrassment on account
of the insufficient labor for the care
and carrying on of their sugar planta-
tions. OF course, it becomes necessary
to extend our labor laws over the ISL
ands, so as to prohibit all kinds of
foreign contract labor from coming to
the Territory, first, because it is the
policy of this country to keep out all
kinds of cheap foreign labor, including
coolie labor, and thereby prevent such
labor from interfering with the wages
| of American labor; and, secondly to
protect our manufactured products
from competition with manufactured
goods produced by cheap alien labor.
The general laws of the United States
will place the people of the Territory
on the same footing as the people OF
the States and other Territories of the
United States in regard to the foreign
labor. The question whether white la
Dor can be profitably used in the sugar
plantations is yet problem, but the
planters are preparing to give such Ia
Dor a trial. and some of them believe
it will prove superior to the labor of
either Chinese or Japanese
The Commissioners take pains to ex-
press their united opinion that the plan
outlined for the government of Hawaii
cannot be regarded as a precedent for
Porto Rico and the Philippines, say
! ing on this point:
| Much has been said to the effect
that the policy of the scheme of gov
ernment for the Hawaiian Islands will
be taken and accepted as an index or
precedent to be followed in the plan
of government of Porto Rico and the
Philippines. In view of this apparent
expectation or belief on the part of
many good people in the United States,
| the commission deems it proper to
state that the people of Hawaii are
capable of self government, and have
proven this by the establishment of the
republic of Hawaii, and the adoption
| of a Constitution and code of laws
which would compare favorably with
those Of any other government. and un-
der such Constitution and laws have
maintained a stable government for
several years worthy of a free people.
The people of those islands are more
or less familiar with the institutions
and laws Of the United States. rs the
laws of the little republic are largely
taken from the laws of this country.
1T cannot be said that either the
Porto Ricans or the Philippines are at
all familiar with our system of gov
ernment, or with any other based Oh
the principles of liberty. The under
lying theory of our Government is the
right of self government and a people
must be fitted for self government be-
fore they can be trusted with response
bilities and duties attaching to free
government
These remarks are made to negative
the idea that because the people of the
Hawaiian Islands can, in the judgment