The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-27
A PLANT FROM HAWAII.

OF the Treasury surplus We notice one
proposed by "Homesteader," a CORE
spondent of the Hilo Tribune Part oil
the communication is as follows:
| see by the papers that the Govern
ment has a big balance of cash in the
public Treasury that they do not know
what TO do with. If such is the case
may I ask why they do not fulfil their
promises and make roads TO the lands
of the hOmesteaders? Does this Gov
/ eminent care more for boarding up
/ money than il does for justice? Is
/ this Government above the law. and
I does it care nothing about its prom
ises? Does it care nothing that these
! hOmesteaders are likely TO be ruined
for lack of roads, which the Govern
ment has faithfully promised to make?
Does ii care nothing that the produce
that has been raised on these home
steads Is rotting in the field because ii
costs more to get it down through the
impossible woods than ii is worth. or
the money that can be got for it? Is
there one law for the Government and
another for the poor? We would also
like TO know if the Government. while
il fulfils none of its promises. intends
TO hold down the homesteader to the
strict letter of the contract?
1t is true as "Homesteader' says
that there is big balance in the pub
lie Treasury which the Government
does not know what TO do with. but
this fact in no way implies that the
money can be taken out and spent at
the pleasure of those who have it in
charge. The funds of the people are
better guarded than that. What is
needed TO make them available for
public works is legislative appropria-
ton and 1t is a question that has been
referred TO the Government at Wash
ington whether these Islands have
Legislature which may appropriate or
can have one during this period of po-
litical transition. Because our adm |
term Government is not above the |
law" or below it, public improvements, |
such as roads. streets and reservoirs |
must wait. We may regret the circum- |
stance but it cannot be evaded no |
ihdlNCl III" z Tie Hteu vi TIE
steader in Hawaii or the water-consu-
mer in Honolulu.
But if President Mckinley and his |
advisers decide that the Hawaiian Leg
islature is still in existence and may
sit and enact laws at the regular time,
We do not doubt that the road-making
needs of all the Islands will have their
pro rata of the public funds. No one
Knows better than Mr.. Dole, for exam
pie, that roads and civilization go hand
n hand. He has taken a great inter-
sst in road development, particularly
IN the Island of Hawaii. Those ofthis
population who, like him, are anxious
o see Hawaii become a white mans !
speaking of it both as an ISL
md and as a group, agree that the
sooner the productive parts are grid
roned with roads the sooner these ISL
Inds will become populous with thrift
y whites. Roads for carts and roads
or locomotives are what we all want
but unfortunately We cannot-elear
he way for them by saying Open,
esamei" either at the Executive
'uilding or in the press. The Govern
nent at Washington must speak. first;
he local law-making authority will
hen. perhaps, have its turn to be
eard.
Still, "Homesteader's case is a hard
ne 1t invokes sympathy, the more
o because the Hawaiian Government |
promised to open up COM
lunication for him and for others who
re situated as he is on public lands.
tut events have taken from this Gov
the power to do as it pleases.
hat is the stubborn fact which is real
= in 'Homesteader's" way; but it is
ne. luckily. which may be soon re 7
loved .