Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-05

the hour OF clemency and reeonstruc-
ton
REBUILD WASTE PLACES.
No effort will be spared 20 build up
the waste places dcsOlated by war and
by long years OF mlsgovernment. We
shall not wait for the end OF the strife
TO begin the beneficent work. We shall
continue, as we have begun. 10 open the
schools and the churches, to set the
courts IN operation, 10 foster Industry
and trade and agriculture and In every
way IN our power 10 make these peo-
pie whom Providence has brought with
In our Jurisdiction feel that It Is their
liberty and not our power their welfare
ana not our gain that we are seeking
| 10 enhance.
Our nag has never waved over any
| community but In blessing / believe the
tuipinos VIII soon recognize the fact
mat Il has not lost Its gift Of benedic-
lion IN its worldwide journey 10 their
shores.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Some embarrassment In admlnlstra-
ton has occurred by reason Of the pc
culiar status which the Hawaiian ISL
ands al present occupy under the Joint
resolution Of annexation approved July
Z, 1888. While by that resolution the
republic OF Hawaii as an independent
nation was extlnguished, It's separate
sovereignty destroyed and It's property
| and possessions vested In the United
| States, yet complete establishment for
lis government under our system was
| not effected While the municipal laws
| OF the Islands not enacted for the full
| allment Of treaties and not Inconsistent
| with tho f0lYt resolution .
| the Constitution OF the United States
or any Of Its treaties remain In force
| yet these laws relate only to the social
and internal affairs OF the island do
not touch any subjects Of Importance
which are Of broader national charac-
ter.
HAWAIIAN LANDS.
For example. the Hawaiian republic
was Invested OF all title TO the public
lands In the Islands and is not only UNI
able 10 dispose Of lands 10 settlers de-
string TO take up 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
purchaser, lessee, or settler 20 have a
full title granted 90 him upon compli-
blANN WIN Nllt tglNlAlOllo lIttaIlUel ny
law or by his particular agreement Of
entry.
QUESTIONS OF DOUBT.
Questions Of doubt and difficulty have
also arisen with reference 10 the coll
lection Of tonnage tax on vessels COM
Ing from Hawaiian ports; with refer
ence 10 the status Of Chinese In the ISL
ands, their entrance and exit there
from; as 10 patents and copyrights; as
to the register Of vessels under the nav.
igation laws; as 10 the necessity OF
holding elections In accordance with
the provisions Of the Hawaiian statutes
for the choice OF various officers, and
as to several other matters OF detail
touching the interests both Of the ISL
ands and OF the Federal government.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR HA- |
WAII.
BY the resolution OF annexation the |
President was directed 10 appoint Ave |
commissioners 10 recommend to Con- |
gress such legislation concerning the |
Islands as they should deem necessary |
or proper The commissioners were du- |
~ appointed and after a careful in |
vestlgation and study OF the system Of |
laws ana government 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 |
10 Congress on Dec. 6, 1898, but the bill |
stlll awaits final action
LEGISLATION Is URGENT.
The people OF these Islands are en-
titled to the benefits and privileges Of |
our legislation but In the absence Of any |
act Of Congress providing for Federal |
courts In the Islands, and for a proceed |
ure by which appeals, writs OF error |
and other judicial proceedings necessary |
for the enforcement Of civil rights may |
be prosecuted, they are powerless to
secure their enforcement by the judg-
ment OF the courts OF the United States.
Il is manifoldly important therefore
that an act shall be passed as speedily |
as possible, erecting these Islands into
judicial district providing for the APP
pointment OF a Judge and other proper
officers and methods OF procedure In ap-
pellate proceedings and that the gov
eminent Of this newly acquired terri
tory under the Federal Constitution
shall be fully defined and provided for.
LAVE r'Jh ALAShA,
A necessity for immediate legislative
action exists in the Territory Of Alaska.
Substantially the only law providing a
civil government for this Territory Is
the act OF May IL, 1854. This Is mea-
gre In Its provisions and is fitted only
for the administration Of affairs In a
country sparsely inhabited by civilized
people and unlmportant In trade and
production, as was Alaska at the time
this act was passed.
The Increase In population by immi-
grafton during the past few years con-
sequent upon the discovery Of gold. has
produced such condition. as calls for
more ample facilities for local self gov
eminent and more numerous convent
ences Of civil and judicial administra-
tlon. Settlements have grown up I'm
various places. constituting In point OF
and business cities Of thou
sands OF inhabitants. yet there is no
provision Of law under which a munich
pality can be organized or maintained.
OF MUNICIPAL AUTHOR
ITY.
In some localities the inhabitants |
have met together and voluntarily |
formed a municipal organization for |
tue puAppSt VI lpcdl EUNtTumtut, ADOPT | ,
Ing the form OF municipal constitu-
ton under which paid officials have
been appointed, and ordinances creating |
and regulating a police force, fire de-
partment, a department OF health. and
making provision for the care OF the
Insane and INDECENT poor and sick and
Tor public schools. have been passed.
These proceedings and ordinances
passed by such municipality are with
out statutory authority and have no
sanction, except as they are maintained
by the popular sentiment Of the COM
There is an entire absence OF author
~ to provide the ordinary instrument
" local police control and administra.
ion the population consisting OF the ,
usual percentage Of lawless adventur-
RS % the class that always flock 10
new fields OF enterprise or discovery, |
md under circumstances which require |
more than ordinary provision for the