The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-06

o o-f0Stou OF all title 10 the public
lands in the islands and is not only I'M
able to dispose Of lands to settlers desir-
ing to take I'D homestead sites, but is
without power to give complete title in
cases where lands have been entered upon
under lease or other conditions which
carry with them the right to the pur-
CHASER, lessee, or settler to have a full
ute granted to him upon compliance
with the conditions prescribed by law or
oy his particular agreement of entry.
questions of doubt and difficulty have
also arisen with reference to the collec-
uon of tonnage tax on vessels coming
from Hawaiian ports; with reference to
the status of Chinese in the islands, their
entrance and exit therefrom: as to pat
ents and copyrights; as to the register Of
vessels under the navigation laws; as TO
the necessity of holding elections in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the Ha-
waiian statutes for the choice of various
officers, and as to several other matters
Of detail touching the interests both of
the island and of the federal government
BILL STILL AWAITS ACTION.
By the resolution of annexation the
president was directed TO appoint five
commissioners to recommend to congress
such legislation concerning the islands as
they should deem necessary or proper.
The commissioners were duly appointed
and after a careful investigation and
study of the system of laws and govern
ment prevailing in the islands and the
conditions existing there, they prepared
bill to provide a government under the
title of "The Territory of Hawaii" The
report of the commission, with the bill
which they prepared, was transmitted by
me to congress on December 6, 1898, but
the bill still awaits final action.
NEEDED COURT PRIVILEGES
The people of these islands are entitled
to the benefits and privileges of our legis-
lation, but in the absence of any act of
congress providing for federal courts in
the Islands, and for a procedure by which
appeals writs &c error and judicial pro-
ceedings necessary for the enforcement
Of civil rights may be prosecuted, they
are powerless to secure their enforce
ment by the judgment of the courts of
the United States. 1t is manifestly i'm
portant, therefore, that an act shall be
passed as speedily as possible erecting
these islands into a judicial district, pro-
viding for the appointment of a judge and
other proper officers and methods of pro-
cedure in appellate proceedings, and that
the government of this newly acquired
territory under the federal constitution
shall be fully defined and provided for.
ALASKA
EXISTING LAWS OUTGROWN
A necessity for immediate legislative
action exists in the territory of Alaska
Substantially the only law providing
civil government for this territory is the
act Of May H. 1884. This is meagre in
its, provisions and is fitted only for the
administration of affairs in a country
sparsely inhabited by civilized people and
in trade and production, as
was Alaska at the time this act was
passed. The increase in population by
during the past few years,
upon the discovery of gold,
has produced such asoondition as calls for
more ample facilities for local self-gov-
eminent and more numerous conveniences
of civil and judicial administration. Set
Elements have grown up in various places
constituting in point of population and
business cities of thousands of inhabi-
tants yet there is no provision Of law
under which a municipality can be or
ganized or maintained.
VOLUNTARY MUNICIPALITIES.
In some localities the inhabitants have
met together and voluntarily formed a
organization for the purpose of
local government, adopting the form of a
constitution under which paid
officials have been appointed and ordi
naEces creating and regulating a police
force, a fire department, a department
Of health, ana making provision for the
care of the insane and INDECENT poor and
sick and for public schools, have been
passed.
WITH NO AUTHORITY IN LAW.
These proceedings and ordinances, pass
ed by such municipalities, are without
authority and have no sanction
except as they are maintained by the
popular sentiment of the community. |
There is an entire absence of authority |
to provide the ordinary instrument of |
ocal police control and admins tration. :
he population consisting of the usual |
of lawless adventures of the /
lass that always flock to new fields Of /
enterprise or discovery and under cir /
which require more than or
linary provision for the maintainence Of /
peace, good order and lawful conduct.
ANOTHER COURT NEEDED.
The whole vast area of Alaska COM
,rises but one judicial district, with one /
udge, one marshal and one district at
orney, yet the civil and CRIMINAL bust
less has more than doubled within the
,ast year and is many times greater, both
n volume and Importance, Than 1t was in
So. The duties of the judge require
lin to travel thousands of miles to dis
harge his judicial duties at the various
,laces designated for that purpose. The
erritory should be divided into at least
wo districts and an additional judge. lis
rict attorney, marshal and other appro-
,r;ate officers should be provided.
AND MORE LEGISLATIVE POWER.
There is practically no organized form
government i nthe territory. There
no authority except in congress to pass !
ny law, no matter how local or trivial, !
nd the difficulty Of conveying to the
ongress an adequate conception and I'M
eTSLanuluS OF the various AtfuS u lAe
eople in the different communities IS
asily understood. see no reason why
more complete form OF territorial or
anization should not be provided for.
Glowing the precedent established in
he year 1So5. when a temporary govern
lent was provided for the recently &C
uired territory. then known under the
anne Of Louisiana. Il seems TO me that
would be advantageous TO confer great
: legislative power upon the governor
nd 10 establish, as was done in the case
( the territory OF Louisiana, iegisia-
We council having power 70 adopt ordl-
ances which shall extend 70 al the
ghtful subjects oS local legislation, such