Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-17
The President Desires Him to Retain
His Position.
ON VERGE OF RESIGNING
Conditions in Hawaii Demand
Remedial Legislation.
IN UNSATISFACTORY STATE

The President has refused to accept the
resignation Of Mr.. Damon. the Hawaiian
minister Of finance. and that Official will
remain in office. at least until such time
as Congress provides for a different system
OF government for the Hawaiian Islands.
Mr.. Damons resignation was rendered
while he was in Italy seeking to secure the
emigration to Hawaii OF Italian laborers,
who are wanted on the plantations on the
islands. This pursuit was in the interest of
an organization OF planters and capitalists,
and II was thought to be scarcely fitting
that the minister of finance should engage
in such outside matters. The resignation
was rendered under those conditions but
as Mr. Damon has since terminated the
connection between himself and the organ,
ization referred TO the reason for its acs
ceptance at once disappeared and he will
continue in office.
Need for Remedial Legislation.
That is only one of many recent happen
ings that has served TO strengthen the
President in the belief that the present
state of affairs in Hawaii cannot be con,
tinued much longer without results disas-
trous to the material interests Of the ISL
ands. There have also been complications
In connection with the disposition of the
crown lands, and altogether II is deemed
necessary that Congress proceed at once
upon reassembling to deal with the problem
of supplying permanent form OF govern
ment for the islands to replace the present
nondescript institution.
The Judiciary.
One consideration alone that is regarded
as sufficient in weight to demand the most;
earnest consideration, and at the earliest
possible moment too, is the indefinits>
status of the Hawaiian judiciary In ordi.
nary cases involving only property or even
Imprisonment this would be a matter Of
gravity, but when, as has happened re.
Gently, human life is involved 1t is felt that
the stakes are too large to warrant recgs
less persistency In the present course. The
difficulty IN these cases lies in a radical DIFF
ference between the Hawian and the
United States laws. and although Hawaii
has been by act of Congress declared a
part of the United States vet the jurisdic-
ton Of the United States Supreme Court
over the Islands has been denied.
Status of omciaIs Underlined.
The status Of the officials on the islands
is also uncomfortably indefinite, even where
those officers are connected directly With
the local government. The latter officiale
owe a divided allegiance to President Nc,
Kinley and to President Dole. which Is not
regarded as sound practice. In the case OF
the United States officials Mr.. Sewaih
formerly United States minister TO HawaM
Is now rated a special agent" of the
State Department. in order to carry him
along until Congress otherwise provides
But 1t is doubtful If Mr.. Sewall himself has
a clear conception of his functions Ger
tain 1t is that there has been more or less
conflict Of Jurisdiction between himself and
Mr.. Haywood, who is still ranked as consul
general of the United States, an anomalous
office in view Of the fact OF annexation.
In his case there is said to be the neces-
sity OF continuing the office. because under
present conditions there is no other way to
cfrra
Islands and the Pacific coast. Some one
must Issue papers TO ships and certify TO
commercial papers until the United States
tarin system goes into effect IN Hawaii and
treasury officials replace the existing force
OF local officials.
Trouble From immigration,
The immigration question has also been
a source of trouble, and until our own laws
are applied in their entirety, there is at all
times danger OF complications with foreign
powers resulting from the application Of
the local laws.
All of these considerations bava had thair.