Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-23

| House of Representatives. of the United
States who is to be chosen by voters quail
| flied to vote for members of the territorial
| house of representatives, and who must
will insure the people of Hawaii at all
| times representation in Congress. He will
! be of great aid in future legislation in the
ability to furnish information upon the
novel questions that must necessarily arise
In any event, inashmuch as the bill creates
territory of the Hawaiian Islands, the
| people Will be entitled to a delegate under
| section 1867, Revised Statutes
Public Lands.
| The joint resolution for the annexation of
the Hawaiian Islands provides that the ex-
| listing laws of the United States relative
to public lands should not apply to such
| lands in these islands; and section 81 of
the bill continues in force the laws of Ha-
wall relating to public lands. A commits
sioner of public lands is provided TO exer-
| cise the powers and duties of minister of
| the interior under the laws of Hawaii
| The public lands of Hawaii are now by
law, under the control of a board of three
| commissioners, of which the minister Of the
| interior is member. The most important
| provision of this section is contained in
| lInes II. -, %, "A, page 33. prohibiting the
sale, lease or renewal of leases of a;rricul-
| tural lands for longer period than five
years. These lands are. as whole very
valuable. To a great extent thay have
| been occupied and improved by large cor
! porationS with abundant capital Indeed
| It has been estimate by those well oualf-
| iled TO judge that if these lands could be
| leased at fair rental they would alone
yield an income sufficient to support the
| government OF the territory of Hawaii
Relating to the same subject the COM
| mlttee recommend the striking out of sec
| ton a of the original bill. which provides
/ an appropriation of So $50 to enable the
| Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the
| laws and all matters relating to public
! lands, agriculture, forestry and public roads
| IN the territory of Hawaii. From such in
| formation the committee could obtain
the Department of Agriculture is now well
| equipped without additional appropriation
| to make the proposed investigation and re-
port; 1t Is not proposed that any members
| OF the department shall visit the islands
| appears.
In case the bill Oh R. No. 1119n which
| mas passed the House and is now pending
| IN the Senate, should become a law sec
| lions IS and 50 of the amended bill should
| be stricken out. If it should not. section
| SS may be amended to fix the salary of the
| collector at Honolulu
The amendment proposed in limo three
| page As, by inserting the word .'permanant"
| Tor temporary after the word registers"
is offered for the reason that it appears in
| evidence before the committee that a few
| vessels, not exceeding five in number had
oeen purchased in good faith before August
II, 1873, with intention upon the part of
| the purchasers to obtain permanent Ha-
Wallan registry, but which on said data
were salllng under temporary register or
| sea letter, and which had failed 10 Obtain
permanent registry through no laches upon
| the part of the owners
Inc other amendments proposed 10 the
fpV IL,
verbal or. as more nearly conforming than
the original text to the laws applicable TO
the other territories of the United States
General Provisions
Inc general provisions of the bill extend
| the Constitution and laws of the Tinted
| states to the islands and retain the laws of
Iia"aii not inconsistent Herewith Excep-
tion Is made of the land laws. The excIu-
sion OF Chlnese and the assumption of the
Hawaiian debt are made law in~fba ra,v
territory by the joint resolution or annax
alton. The validity of this first provision
| mas already been upheld by the supreme
In recommending the bill fayorabIv the
committee have been Influenced bv practiraI
| Gohsidefauons and those relating solely 10
ara aH an an, ana It's people. Questions of gem
eral poilcy or precedent in the estahIisbn,
neht OF government in the future for otbar
illsular possessions of the United Statas
nay nave mad no weight. Neither the fear nor
u iutuie statehood ell
mas mad place in the discussion Of IT, Hi
ana the conclusions reached. The nresent
Heeus ana illness of the people of Hawaii
been inf,t1entiah Tb proposed, have alone
ealllng IN the islands, the general dify, 81
ol education, the law-abiding cbaran+o Oh s
institutipne., titeir general knowledge of the
n ullohs OF the United sStares and 1
~ IlsHed desire to partake of the hIeSSi,,+5
~ 'itese institutions, fairly entitle than, p
tnrv eRP, nt government of a terri.
l.,
lully established and maintained a 80 ,ess9
eIIheht, justly and wisely adminis.eero5
a and enacted enacted body of laws founded unou
ana closely resembling the 1aws of upon
states of the Union, under which she the
mas mas peen dispensed by a Judiciary, 81 ~
T hest hin Gna rae, and ability.
Hawaii is s Au'nro receive early attention.
nave an American government If hotIii
80 II Wltnout delay. Already arraneel
the nas Sac o of n made by planters. since
, ,ilS Passage OF the joint resolution of ar,
heHaton, for the Importation in 1a,t,o % ar, an
pels OF amen contract laborers on ii
fa i,u Immigration laws should have aarII
force In Hawaii that its citizensbi,, carry
American "i"a9s and in truth
the renm nhhiiiorl.y report is approved by all
members of the committee
The Democratic Report.
me democrats of the committee have
submitted minority report, Directing prtn-
~ 'iitee proVlSloES of the hill tbat
providing for the qualifications of members
OF the legislative bodies being adiudeed Inv
the supreme Court in cases of contest; that
providing for the appointment of justices NJ
. tne supreme Court for life, and that maxi
ing property qualification for electors
, Inc provisions stricken out of the hill nv,
the committee, relating to the punishment
by the legislature of persons mot mem.
VINO shall assault, arrest or detain anv
witness or other person ordered to attend
sach house on his way going 10 or return
ing tnerefrom; or who shall rescue anv
person arrested by order of such house
BUT the person charged with the offense
shall be informed, in writing of the charge
made against him, and have an opportunity
to present evidence and be heard in his own
defense. ~ '"H
Mr.. Knox says that he will endeayor To
have the bill acted on by the House as soon
as possible, and that he is confident that
the bill will be disposed of by both houses
before the close of this Congress.