The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-06
PECULIAR STATUS OF
HAWAIIAN GROUP.
No Laws Yet Extended by Congress
and the Former Government
still In Ch0rUe.

still in Charge.
Some embarrassment In administration
has occurred by reason Of the peculiar
at present occupy under the joint resolu-
ton of annexation approved July Z. 1885,
While by that resolution the republic of
tinguished. its separate sovereignty de-
stroyed and it's property and possessions
vested In the United States, yet a COM
plete establishment for its government
under our system was not effected. While
the municipal. laws Of the islands. not
enacted for the fulhllment of treaties and
not inconsistent with the joint resolution
United States or any of Its treaties. re-
main in force. yet these laws relate only
to the social and internal affairs of the
islands and do not touch any. subjects Of
Importance which are OF a broader ma
tional character. For example, the Ha-
waiian republic was Invested of all title
to the public lands in the islands, and Is
tiers desiring to take up homestead sites.
but II is without power to give complete
title in cases where lands have been en-
which carry with them the right to the
purchaser. 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.
Many Unsettled Questions.
Questions of doubt and difYiculty have
also arisen with reference to the collec-
tion of tonnage tax on vessels coming
from Hawaiian ports; with reference to
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 ac-
waiian statutes for the choice Of various
officers. and as to several other matters
of detail touching interests both OF the
islands and of the Federal government.
Report of the Commission.
BY the resolution of annexation the
president was directed to appoint fve
commissioners to recommend to congress
such legislation concerning the islands as
they should deem necessary or proper
and after careful Investigation and
study of the system of laws and govern
ment prevailing in the islands and the
a bill to provide a government under the
title OF 1.-THE Territory of Hawaii" The
report OF the commission, with the bill
wnic n tney prepa ar was 1sas by 0y
the bill still awaits final action.
People Are Entitled to Legislation.
The people of these islands are entitled
to the benefits and privileges of our legis-
lation. but In the absence of any act Of
congress providing for Federal courts in
the islands and for q procedure by which
appeals, writs of error and other judicial
proceedings necessary for the enforce
ment OF CIVIL rights may Dc prosecuted,
they are powerless to secure their en-
forcement by the Judgment of the courts
Of the United States. 1t Is manifoldly
important, therefore. that an act should
be passed as speedily as possible erecting
these islands into judicial district, pro-
viding for the appointment of a Judge
and other proper officers and methods Of
procedure in appellate proceedings. and
that the government of this newly ac-
Quired territory under the Federal con-
stitution shall be fully defined and pro-
vided for.