Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-17
Dissatisfaction Caused by This Gov
ernment's Attitude.
OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Will Probably Be Asked to Review
INJU STICE IS ALLEG ED

Upon the return of Attorney General
Grfggs. who is with the President, 1t is
probable that he will be asked to review an
opinion rendered to the President on Sep
TENDER as to the power of the local au-
thorities of the Hawaiian Islands to dis
pose of portions of the public domain. The
President will at the same time be asked
to revoke proclamation issued directing
that all proceedings for the disposition OF
public lands be discontinued; that the sales
which have been made are null and void
and that the money paid to the local au-
thoritieS on account shall be refunded.
This proclamation was issued on the opin-
ion of the Attorney General, and as a re-
suit of the proclamation there is a great
deal of dissatisfaction among portions of
the Hawaiian population.
General A. S. Hartwell is expected in
Washington to place the tangled matter
before the President and the administra-
ton. He will claim that great deal of in
justice has been done to hundreds of peo-
pie In the islands and that the present Ha-
waiian government has been placed in an
embarrassing position.
The Attorney Generals Opinion.
The opinion of Attorney General Griggs
was that under the resolution annexing the
islands to the United States, together with
subject of territory ceded by one govern
ment to another. the public lands of the
Hawaiian Islands became the property of
the United States and could be disposed
of thereafter only by special act of Con-
gress. The Attorney General was so posi-
tive in his views that he said that it was
easy to arrive at conclusion.
The claim of the Hawaiian people and
those newspapers which consider the Pres
idents action unjust is that after the act
government requested the government here
to answer a number of questions as to
what should be done in the islands pending
legislation by Congress One of the ques-
tons propounded was specifically in rela-
ton to LAM patents and deeds by Pres
ident Dole.
Instructions to Hawaii.
InSthe answer which was received by the
Hawaiian government the specific question
was not definitely answered, but the Ha
waiian authorities were instructed that
the municipal legislation of Hawaii gener-
ally should remain in force
1t is claimed that, acting on these in
structions, the Hawaiian government pro-
ceeded to deal with lands as hitherto until
the State Department addressed a letter,
in August. to the Hawaiian government
calling attention to the protests of squat
tiers" against the sale of government lands.
1t is further claimed that an answer was
prepared to this communication, and that
It left Honolulu September 1, reaching
Washington after the proclamation of the
President. 1t is held that the government
here should Lave waited for information
from Hawaii before taking such radical
action.
Many Persons Affected.
1t is said in Hawaii that a large number
Of persons and two or three large sugar
will be affected by the decision
of this government. 1t will be impossible
to fully repay the purchasers of the land
when many of the properties have been
greatly improved. Two railroads are in
volved and will suffer damage. 1t is said
that the United States courts will be APP
pealed to, and that the matter will finally
come to the Supreme Court of this country
unless the government revokes its action.
There is of course another side to the
case, and this is the side that has been
presented fully at the Department Of JUS
tice. 1t IS from the 'squatters' on gov
lands in Hawaii They are poor
people, and claim that they have been il
legally elected and their lands sold to peo-
pie who are friends of the existing govern.
ment. Many officials of the administration
here have been led to believe that there is
a close compact among Hawaiian officials
and that they have been extending favorS
to friends whenever possible.