The times., 1899-12-06
OUR HAWAIIAN POSSESSIONS.

OF benediction in its worldwide journey 10
their shores.
OUR HAWAIIAN POSSESSIONS.
4 Comprehensive scheme eff Govern
mcnt.
Some embarrassment in administration
has occurred by reason Of the peculiar
status which the Hawaiian Islands at pres
ent occupy under the joint resolution Of
annexation approved July Z 1883. While
by that resolution the Republic OF Hawaii
as an independent nation was eXtnguished,
its separate sovereignty destroyed, and its
property and possessions vested in the
United States, yet a complete establish
ment for its government under our system
was not Effected. While the municipal
/ laws Of the islands not enacted for the
/ fUlillment Of treaties and not inconsistent
/ with the joint resolution or contrary to the
I Constitution Of the United States or any
/ Of its treaties remain in force, yet these
laws relate only 10 the social and internal
affairs of the islands, and do not touch
many subjects of Importance which are of
a broader national character. For exam
pie. the Hawaiian Republic was diyested
/ Of all title 10 the public lands in the isl
ands, and is not only unable 10 dispose OF
lands TO settlers desiring to take up home
stead sites. but is without power 10 give
complete title In cases where lands have
been entered upon under lease OF other
conditions which carry with them the
right to the purchaser, lessee. or settler 10
have full title granted to him upon COM
( pliance with the conditions prescribed by
law or by his particular agreement of en-
try.
Questions Of doubt and difficulty have also
arisen with reference 10 the collection Of
! tonnage tax on vessels coming from Ha-
waiian ports; with reference to the status
/ Of Chinese in the Islands, their entrance
and exit therefrOm; as 70 patents and copy
rights; as 10 the register of vessels under
the navigation laws; as TO the necessity
OF holding elections IN accordance with the
provisions Of the Hawaiian statutes for the
choice OF various officers, and as 10 several
other matters OF detail touching the inter
ests both of the island and OF the Federal
Government.
BY the resolution OF annexation he Presi-
dent was directed to appoint five commits
sioners TO recommend 20 Congress such leg
islation concerning the islands as they
should deem necessary or proper. These
commissioners were duly appointed and
after q careful investigation and study OF
the system OF laws and government prevail
ing IN the islands, and Of the conditions
existing there, they prepared a bill 10 pro-
vide a government under the title OF The
Territory Of Hawaii" The report Of tbs
Commission, with the bin which they pre-
pared, was transmitted by me TO Congress
on December 6, 1855 but The bill still awaits
final action.
Alaska and Porto Rico.
The people Of these islands are entitled
to the benefits and privileges Of our Con-
stf;uuou. but IN the absence Of any act
Of Congress providing for Federal courts
in The Islands, and for procedure 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 judgment Of the courts Of the United
States. II is manifestly important, there
fore, that an act shall be passed as speedily
as possible erecting these islands into a
judicial district providing for the appoint
meut OF q judge ard other proper officers,
and methods OF procedure IN appellate pro-
! ceedings, and that the government OF this
uewly-acquired territory under the Federal
F Constitution shall be fully defined and pro-
vided for
RecOmme of Great weight.
4 necessity for immediate legislative re-
! lief exists in the Territory Of Alaska. Sub
stanIally the only law providing civil
government for this Territory is the act Of
May II. 1850 This IS meagTe in its provi-
I sions. and Is fitted only for The administra-
+ tion OF affairs IN 9 country sparsely iDhab-
tied by civilized people and unimportant
/ in trade and production. as was Alaska at
the time this act was passed. The in
/ crease in population by immigration during
the past few years, consequent upon the
. discovery Of gold, has produced such con-
ditiOn as calls for more ample facilities for
I local self government and more numerous
( conveHieuces Of civil and judicial admin
istraUOn. Settlements have grown up in
various places, constituting IN point Of
population and business cities OF thousands
Of Inhabitants. yet there is no provision
OF law under which d municipality can be
( organized or maintained.
In some localities the inhabitants have
met together and voluntarily formed mu-
nicipal organization for the purpose OF
local government, adopting the form OF a
municipal constitution and charter under
which said officials have been appointed:
and ordinances creating and regulating a
police force a fire department a DEPART
ment OF health, and making provision for
the care OF The insane and indigent poor
and sick and for public schools, have been
! passed. These proceedings and the ordi-
/ nances passed by such municipalities are
without statutory authority and have no
sanction. except as they are maintained by
the popular sentiment Of the community.
+ There is an entire absence OF authority
I 20 provide the ordinary instruments OF To-
+ cal police control and administration, the
population consisting Of the usual percent
age Of laWless adyentUrers Of the class that
always flock 20 new fields OF enterprise or
. discovery, and under circumstances which
require more than ordinary provision for
/ the maintenance Of peace, good order, and
I lawful conduct
/ The whole vast area OF Alaska comprises
but one judicial district, with one judge,
one marshal, and one district attorney, yet
the civil and criminal business has more
( than doubled within the past year, and is
many times greater both in volume and
/ Importance than 81 was in 1884 The du-
! ties Of the Judge require him to travel