Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-04-24
Closing Moments Of
the Council Of State

The Council of State met for the
last time probably yesterday at 3 p.
IN. There were present rTysiueut I)pIt
Ministers Mott-Smith. Young and Da
mon, and Councillors Isenberg, Achi
kaulukou, Allen, Gonsalves, Robert
son, Jones, Gear, Bolte, Kennedy, ka-
ne. Mott and Robinson.
The minutes of the previous meeting
were read and approved.
Mr.. Gear asked the Minister of For
eign Affairs for the correspondence of
the Washington State Department
about the disposition of the claims OF
aliens imprisoned as suspects in 1895.
Minister Mott-Smith replied that af-
ter annexation the correspondence with
foreign representatives terminated and
the settlement of the matter was re-
erred to Washington. Hon. II. NJ.
Sewall had been furnished with fun
memoranda of the matter and the lat
ter gentleman had handed him note
in reference thereto as follows:
IL have tn ehonor to advise you that
! am in receipt of instructions from the
Secretary Of State to the effect that
| all claims existing against Hawaii in
| favor Of the subjects or citizens Of
| foreign lands prior to and at the time
Of its annexation to the United States
are referred back to the local Hawaiian
| government for its consideration and
settlement"
Mr.. Gear asked If this was all Of the
correspondence which passed.
Minister Mott-Smith replied that one
letter had since been received in which
the additional word determination
had been inserted and the clause of thu
instructions reiating to the claims now
stood so that they were referred to tn
Hawaiian Government for "considera
ton, determination and settlement"
Mr.. Gear asked what the occasion
was for the second letter and why hat
he word determination" been adde,
to the instructions. Had the local gov
| arnment written to Washington an,
lrawn out the addition.
Minister Mott-Smith replied that h
| lid not now remember whether tn
| government wrote directly or whethe
he inquiry was made through NJ
Iartwcll, who knew what was wanted
Mr.. Gear asked If Mr.. Hartwell wa
| he Special Agent of the Foreign OHlc
| It Washington.
Minister Mott-Smith replied that y
vas not, but was the special agent O
he Hawaiian Government and wa
aid out of the Consular and Diploma
| ic appropriation.
Mr.. Robertson asked II Mr.. Hartwe
rad found out about the matter
| iaims.
Minister Mott-Smith replied that IN
| To-, 10 4
css the reply to Mr.. Hartwell's inquiry
| Mr.. Gear moved the adoption of IN
esolution regarding the Court
'laims, which was published in yes
| erday's Bulletin.
| Mr.. Robertson said he would vot,
,gainst the resolution. He did NJ
hink 1t was the proper function Of tn
Council Of State to ask President NJ
i<inley to give advice to the local gov
| lrnment; II was not proper under tn,
terms of the Constitution. We should
not bother President Mckinley wit!
ne details of our local affairs. He Ia,
too much respect for president McKin
ley to ask this Of him. He should l.;
sorry to see the Council of State get
ting down to such little WORK. Beside
| he thought that some of the statement
made were inaccurate. He cited tn,
,laims paid during the cholera time
when some garden and taro patche'
we're destroyed. If anything else was
destroyed and paid for he did not know
what, and did not think anybody else
lid. He held the resolution was be-
vond the province of the Council of
| State and was impertinent.
| The resolution was adopted, all the
Councillors, except Mr.. Robertson, vot-
ing in the affirmative.
At 3:35 p. m. the Council adjourned
sine die