The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-06

has brought within cur jurisdiction
feel that Il is their liberty and not
our power, their welfare and not our
gain, we are seeking TO enhance. Our
flag has never waved over any COM
munity but in blessing. I believe the
Filipinos will soon recognize the fact
that It has not lost Its gift of bene-
diction in its worldwide Journey 70
their shores.
Some embarrassment I'm administra-
tion has occurred by reason of the
peculiar status which the Hawaiian
islands at present occupy under the
Joint resolution of annexation, APP
proved July Z, 1898.
While by that resolution the republic
of Hawaii as an independent nation
was extlngulshed, Its separate sover-
eighty destroyed, and its property and
possessions vested in the United states,
yet complete establishment for It's
government under our system was not
effected. While the municipal 1sws of
the islands not enacted for the fulfill
ment of treaties and not inconsistent
with the joint resolution or contrary
to the constitution of the United States
or any of it's treaties remain in force,
yet these laws relate only to the social
and internal affairs of the islands,
anu uO HOl lOuCH many HuDJtNlS VI
portance which are of a broader ma
tional character. For example, the
Hawaiian republic was divested 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
homestead sites, but Is without power
to give complete title in cases where
lands have been entered upon under
lease or other conditions which carry
trrft ffr n hn II, ocaV.
lessee or settler to have a full title
granted to him upon compliance with
the conditions prescribed by law or
by his particular agreement of entry.
Questions 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 patents and copy
rights as to the register of vessels un-
der the navigation laws; as to the ne
cessity of holding elections in accord
anCe with the provisions of the Ha-
waiian statutes for the choice of vari-
Gus officers, and as to several other
matters of detail touching the inter-
ests both of the island and of the fed
eral government.
BY the resolution OF annexation the
commissioners to recommend to con-
gress such legislation concerning the
islands as they should deem necessary
or proper. These commissioners were
duly appointed, and after a careful in
vestigation and study of the system OF
laws and government prevailing in [he
islands, and of the conditions existing
there. they prepared a bill to provide
a government under the title of "The
TprritnrV nf Hawaii ~ Tho 90
the commission, with the bill which
they prepared was transmitted by me
to congress on Decf1 g. 1898, but the bill
still awaits final action.
The people Of these Islands are en-
titled to the benefits and privileges of
our constitution but In the absence of
any act of congress providing for fed
eral courts in the islands, and for a
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. 1t is manifestly i'm
portant, therefore. that an act shall he
passed as speedily as possible erect
ing these islands into a judicial dis
trlct, providing for the appointment of
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 constitution shall be fully de-
fined and provided for.
Alaska.
A necessity for Immediate legislative
relief exists in the territory of Alaska.
substantially the only law providing
a civil government for this territory
is the act of May II, 1884. This is
meagre in its provisions, and is fitted
only for the administration of affairs
in country sparsely inhabited by
civilized people and unimportant in
trade and production, as was Alaska
at the time this act passed.
The increase in population by emil
grafton during the past few years.
consequent upon the discovery of gold,
has produced such a condition as calls
for more ample facilities for local self
and more numerous con-
Veniences of civil and judicial admin
istration. Settlements have grown up
in various places, constituting in poinc
OF population and business cities of
thousands of Inhabitants. yet there IS
no provision of law under which a
can be organized or main
tanned.
In some localities the inhabitants
have met together and voluntarily
formed a municipal organization for
the purposes of local government,
adopting the form of a municipal con-
stitution and charter, under which said
officials have been appointed; and or
dinances creating and regulating u
Police force, a fire department de-
partment Of health, and making pro-
vision for the care of the insane and
undigent poor and sick and for pub
lie schools, have been passed. These
proceedings and the ordinances passed
by such municipalities are without
statutory authority and have no sane
tiOn, except as they are maintained
by the popular sentiment of the COM
munity. There is on entire absence
of authority to provide the ordinary
instruments of local police control and
administration, the population con-
sistng of the usual percentage of law
less adventurors of the class that al
ways flock to new fields Of enterprise
or discovery and under circumstances
which require more than ordinary pro-
Vison for the maintenance of peace,
good order and lawful conduct.
The whole vast area of Alaska COM
prises but one judicial district, with
one Judge, one marshal, and one dis
tEict attorney, yet the civil and Crimi-
nal business has more than doubled
within the past year, and is many
times greater in volume and import
ance than ii WAS in 1884. The duties
of the judge require him to travel
thousands OF miles Ia discharge his ju'
dicial duties at the various places
designated for that purpose. The ter-
ritory should be divided into at least
two districts. and an additional judge,
district attorney, marshal, ard other
appropriate officers be provided,
There is practically no organized
form of government in the territory
There is no authority, except in con-
gress. to pass any law, no matter how
local or trivial and the difficulty Of
conveying to the congress an adequate