The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-27

HFfefi HN.tN after MtHf NfHf'Nf tNu
much Investigation Chairman Knox
saya thrfo a imperative neei W early
enaAnsni NJ on nfgAnie oct fuf ia
vail. ~ VI haa become apparent that
there n much doubt W Che extent ~
tho power granted 10 ihc local govern
meni uf Hawaii by tho pro, lsiorA Of
the Joint resolution Oi annexation. and
in many important respects there is
something like an lrterrugnun IN ha-
wall
Many doubtful questions ~ admiral
Is and maritime jurisdiction have arls-
on. az well rs Of criminal procedure.
rendering II uncertain whether there u
now any tribunal for the decision OF
important questions Affecting proper
ty ami any existing method by which
criminals may be indicted or legal iur-
les impaneled for their trial.
There Is also grave doubt concern
ing the power OF the Hawaiian Govern
ment TO grant franchises for industrial
and commercial enterprises or for rail-
ways which have been projected. In
many respects the business affairs OF
the Territory are brought to stand
still. Many Americans have bought
Government land since the annexation,
on which they have built residences
and planted crops, but their land titles
are now in dispute and cannot be set
tied until the passage of this bill.
Meanwhile no Americans can settle In
Hawaii on homesteads or land to be
bought from the Government, and a
very desirable class of citizens is there
by shut out of this new Territory. The
local government is unable even to
make public roads over any part of
the public domain of Hawaii or carry'
out plans based on legislation prior to
annexation for widening and straight
ening the streets of Honolulu
The presence in that city of the bu
bonic plague is calling for drastic
measures by the Hawaiian authorities,
involving the expenditure of hundreds
of thousands of dollars. In order to
provide for these expenditures and to
procure funds for the construction Of
buildings which have been burned in
the effort to suppress the pestilence, it
Is proper and just that a Territorial
Legislature be provided by Congress.
Since the adoption of the resolution
of annexation large numbers of Japan
csc contract laborers have been
brought into the Islands Their num-
Der is uncertain, but at least 1900,
and probably more than $4,000, and
delay in extending the laws of the
United States to the Islands will be
taken advantage of to increase their
number.
The government proposed by the bill
for the Hawaiian Islands is territorial
in form, similar to that of the later
Territories of the United States-a
Governor, a Secretary, both appoint
ed by the President; Treasurer, At
torney General, Commissioner of Pub
lie Lands, Commissioner of Agricul-
ture and Forestry, Superintendent of
Public Works, Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction, Auditor and Deputy
Auditor, Surveyor and High Sheriff,
appointed by the Governor.
A Legislature is provided, consist
ing of a Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives. elected by the people. The
TerrltorySis to be represented by Del
egate in Congress. The Territory is
made a judicial district of the United
States, with a District Court. The jul
dicial power of the Territory is vested
in a Supreme Court and in Superior
Courts to be established by the Legis-
lature The Constitution and laws of
the United States locally applicable
are extended over the new Territory
and the laws of Hawaii not inconsist-
ent with the Constitution and laws of
the United States are continued in
force. The Territory is made a GUS
toms and revenue district and becomes
subject to the tariff laws of the United
States. Chairman Knox says it needs
no argument to convince that If it be
possible to give the Hawaiian Islands
a government like that of the United
States Territories-a government
which has met the approval of Con-
sress and the American people since
the Constitution was adopted and has
proved itself adapted to the needs of
free and progressive people-it is de-
sirable to do so.
The American idea of universal suf-
frage presupposes that the body of cit
liens who are to exercise 1t in free
and Independent manner have by in
heritance or education such knowledge
and appreciation of the responsible
ties of free suffrage and of full par
ticipation in the sovereignty of the
country as to be able to maintain re-
publican government. Tried by this
test, he says, the Hawaiian people meet
the requirements for the government
proposed.
The report discusses the population
of the Islands with a, view to estab-
fishing this proposition. OF the 1O9,-
020 inhabitants in 1896, 31,019 were
Hawaiians, S,4S5 part Hawaiians, 3,0S6
Americans, $3.50 British, 1882 Ger
mans, 101 French, 37S Norwegians, 49,
100 Portuguese, 24,407 Japanese, 21,616
Chinese and 1,055 of other nationali-
ties. The report says there has doubt
less been some increase in the popula-
ton since 1896 from American and Eu-
ropean immigration and very consid-
cradle increase from the importation
of Japanese laborers since the passage
of the annexation resolution, which
may be taken at 10000, so that the
population of the Hawaiian Islands at
present may be placed at more than
100000. OF this population the greater
portion are Asiatics-Chinese and Jap
anese. With the passage of this bill
the Chinese will be excluded and the
importation of Japanese contract la
borers prohibited. Neither the Chi
nese nor Japanese have political pow
er and were not eligible to citizenship
under the Republic of Hawaii, nor
could they obtain homestead rights.