The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-12-14
THE PRESIDENT ON HAWAII.
M'KINLEY TELLS CONGRESS Of
HER NEEDS.
Says Embarrassments Have Arisen
From Her Underlined Status--Asks
Immediate Legislation.

The portion of President McKinley's
message relating to Hawaii is as fol-
lows:
Some embarrassment in administca-
ton has occurred by reason of the Le-
culiar status which the Hawaiian lei
ands at present occupy under the joint
resolution of annexation approved July
Z, 1898. While by that resolution the
republic of Hawaii as an Independent
nation was eXtinguished, its separate
sovereignty destroyed and it's property
and possessions vested in the United
States, yet complete establishment for
its government under our system was
not effected. While the municipal laws
of the islands not enacted for the full
fillment of treaties and not inconsistent
with the joint resolution or contrary to
the constitution Of the United States or
of any of its treaties remain in force,
yet these laws relate only to the so
cial and internal affairs of the ISL
ands and do not touch any subjects OF
Importance which are of broader ma
tonal character. For example, the Ha-
waiian republic was Invested of all title
to the public lands in the islands, and
is not only unable to dispose of lands
to settlers desiring to take up home
stead sites, but is without power to
give complete title in cases where
lands have been entered upon on lease
them the right to the purchaser, les
see, or settler to have full title grant
ed to him upon compliance with the
conditions prescribed by law or by his
particular agreement of entry. Cues
tons of doubt and difficulty have also
arisen with reference to the collection
of tonnage tax on vessels coming from
Hawaiian ports; with reference to the
status of Chinese in the islands, their
entrance and exit therefrom; as to pat
ents and copyrights; as to 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 va
rious officers and as to several other
matters of detail touching the interests
both of the islands and of the Federal
Government.
BY the resolution of annexation the
President was directed to appoint five
| commissioners to recommend to Con-
gress such legislation concerning the
islands as they should deem necessary
| or proper. The commissioners We're
duly appointed and after a careful in
vestigation and study of the system of
| laws and government prevailing there,
they prepared a bill to provide a gov
eminent under the title of "The Terri
| tory of Hawaii" The report of the
commission, with the bill which they
prepared, was transmitted by me to
| Congress on December 6, 1898, but the
! bill awaits final action.
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 Fede-
raj courts in the islands, and for a
procedure by which appeals, writs of
error and other judicial proceedings ne
cessary 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. 1t is manifoldly impor-
! tant, therefore that an act shall be
! passed as speedily as possible erecting
these islands into a judicial district.
! providing for the appointment of a
judge and other proper officers and
methods of procedure in appellate pro-
ceedings, and that the government of
this newly acquired territory under the
| Federal cons titution shall be fully de-
| fined ard provided for.