The age-herald., 1900-02-12
GOVERNMENT FOR
 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS Representative Knox Has Con-
 pleted His Report. MANY DOUBTFUL QUESTIONS Governor and Secretary Will be Ap-
 pointed and Legislature of Two .s, Houses willbe Elected s by the People
MANY DOUBTFUL QUESTIONS

Washington, February 11.-Representa- | tive W. S.. Knox of Massachusetts. chair | man of the house committee on territor 1 ties, 'ias completed his report upon the bill | for the creation of the territorial form of | government in Hawaii. and it will be suIo- mibted to the house tomorrow The re- port is very volualnous document of 10S pages.
 | Chairman Knox says there is imperative | need of early enactment for an organic act | for Hawaii as it has become apparent that | there is much doubt of the extent of .he power granted to the local government of Hawaii by the provisions of the joint reso- | lution of annexation and in many Gmpor- l tant respects there is something like an dnterreg number in Hawaii.
 | Many doubtful questions of admirality and maritime jurisdiction have arsen, as we'll as of criminal procedure, rendering 1t uncertain whether there is now any tr1bu- nal for the decision of important ques- | tions affecting property, and, in many re- | spects, the business affairs of the terr- I tory are brought to a standstill The presence fin Honolulu of the bubonic plague is calling for drastic measures by the Hawaiian authorities, involving the ex- penditures of hundreds of thousands of | dollars, and in order to provide for these expenditures territorial legislature should be provided by congress with no unnec- l essary delay.
 Since the adoption of the resolution of annexation probably 25,000 Japanese con tract laborers have been brought into the islands, and delay in extending the laws of the United States to the islands will be taken advantage of to increase their num- Der. The Proposed Government
 The government proposed by the bill, is territorial in form, similar to that of 'the latter territories of bhe United States-a governor, and a secreary, both appointed by the president; a treasurer, attorney gen eral, commissioner of public lands, com missioner of agriculture and forestry, su- perlritendent of public works, superinten- dent of public instruction auditor and deputy auditor, surveyor and high sheriff. appointed by the governor.
 | legislature is provided, consisting of senate and house of representatives, elect ed by the people. The territory Is a judi cial district of the United States with district court The judicial power of the territory is vested in supreme court and superior court to be established by the legislature.
 The constitution and laws of the United States locally applicable are extended over the new territory and the laws of Hawaii not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States and continued in force The territory is made a customs and revenue district and becomes subject to tariff laws of the United States. The report says the population of the TIa- waiian islands at present may be placed at more than 1SO,0OO Of this population, the greater portion are Aslatics-chlnese and Japanese.
 Chinese Will he Excluded With the passage of this bill the Chinese will be excluded and the importation of Japanese contract laborers prohibited. Neither the Chinese or Japanese have po- litical power and were not eligible to cit- izenship under the republic of Hawaii. nor could they obtain homestead rights. The Chinese have come to Hawaii intending to return to their native land when possessed of what to them is compensation. The
 
 The Portuguese will furnish part of the citizenship of Hawaii. The native Hawaii ans will furnish alsa a part of the citizen ship. They an industrious, peaceable and generous people who have shown steady advancement under the influence of edu- cation and Christianity since the advent of the first missionary from New England In 1920
 All the younger Hawaians speak. read and write the English language and perhaps the chief consideration as to the fitness of the Hawaiian people for territorial gov ernment is that the dominant class in the islands both in politics and business 1 American. The government and policy of Hawaii will be shaped in accordance with American ideas.
 Associated with the Americans in Hawaii are the English and Germans. and 1t seems certain that the chief Hawaiian migration in the future will be from America and Western Europe. The bill proposes to strike out the disqualifications made under the republic to permanently disfranchise many of the frIhaIbftants, especially native supporters of the monarchy.
 The Authorized Indebtedness
 The total authorized indebtedness is limit ed to ' per cent. of the assessed valuation of property of the islands. The provision that the governor of the territory of Hawaii shall be citizen of that territory was in- serted for the reason that it was deemed advisable that the governor of a territory so remote. and where conditions were so different from those prevailing in the main- land, should have a greater familiarity with the needs of the territory he was to govern than mere indefinite residence would as- sure.
 Provision Is made for the administration of the revenue and tariff of the United States whara fhe Ia ws frovesruine HaUyaii