The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-10-17
THE sQUATTERs AND THE LAW.

The rush Of the squatters to the gov
eminent lands Of Hawaii, Ia strictly in
accordance with the American spirit,
as the Squatter Bugle must hold. But
lit is in defiance Of the letter OF the
Federal law Of the Mainland. II there
Is any defect In our municipal laws or
In the Federal laws, which permits one
class Of citizens to take advantage of
anOther class. II Is considered good
business" to take such advantage. No
one can complain Of the squatters cam
paign on Hawaii even II there is de-
feet In the laws.
The squatters. however, have not
read Section 70 Of the bills introduced
both in the Senate and the House for
the Government Of Hawaii. The words
are these:
THAT the laws OF Hawaii relating to
public lands, the settlement Of bound
aries, and the issuance OF patents on
land commission awards, except as
changed by this Act, shall continue In
force until Congress shall otherwise
provide"
This is the provision agreed upon by
the committees OF both houses of Con-
gress, and will not be disturbed unless
seine outside and mysterious pressure
Is made upon members. This cam OF
be done II the community and the
planters take the least interest in pre-
venting any change.
II the bill passes in its present shape,
SO far as the disposition of land is
concerned. all public lands must be put
up at auction and sold to the highest
bidder. The squatters do not obtain
the least advantage over, others desir.
ing to buy land. They may occupy it.
and cultivate 1t. but they are to be
charged with full knowledge Of the
present laws which forbid squatting
and with knowledge of the laws which
may continue the present existing laws.
On the Mainland, in past years, when
land was cheap as dirt itself, and no
surveys Of 1t had been made, the squat
ter who settled and improved remote
parts Of 1t, was kindly, regarded by
Congress and granted certain priv
ileges. But that day has passed. and
the conditions Of land, settlement are
not now the same. -, t..
OF course the views OF both commit
tees in the Senate andpHouse may be
changed by the action Of both houses.
The squatters may be justified in
gambling on the chances of change in
favor OF squatter sovereignty. But II
the community does its duty, the pro-
visions of the present bill in Congress
will not be changed. i... .'
The local government, through its
surveyors and agents, should make
every month a careful note of the ac-
tual operations OF the. s9uatters and
preserve clear evidence OF their meth
DDS Of settlement on the land. This
would be done at once II the Interior
Department was not hopelessly desti-
tute of energy. The squatters are net,
1t is said by those who have visited
the place. where these .enterprising
prospectors are at work, complying
even with the Federal laws governing
the occupation of land. They are
earnestly engaged in beating the Devil
around the stump. Few, and 1t is said
none, are living on the land, but all
have put up shanties Of the cheapest
sort which they do not occupy.
II the occasion arises, and the present
| laws are modified so as to give these
promoters chance for permanent set
Element. or speculation, they will no,
hesitate to swear, each and all Of them
that they had lived continuously on the
land, and they will swear each other
through. There will be no evidence
in contradiction. unless some one. feeds
the Interior Department with, powder
and whiskey and changes It from what
II Is, the Sluggard's department, to one
that has some sand In II.