Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-05-10
THE TERRITORIAL LAW.

The Bulletin gives to its readers to-
day the Territorial law signed by the
President on April 30, 1900. The bill
as amended by the cOnfereCs and ac-
cepted by the Senate was forwarded by
mail by the Bulletins special Washing
ton correspondent. Other features cf
the bill as affected by the action of the
House were telegraphed to San Fran
cisco thus enabling the Bulletin TO
place in the hands of the people of the
Territory the law by which they will
be governed practically as soon as they
learned of its receiving the signature
of the President.
The changes in the bill from the
measure introduced in the House are
not numerous. The section dealing
with citizenship gives all persons who
were citizens at the time Of the flag
raising full rights of American citizen
ship irrespective of oaths they may
or may not have taken to previous To-
cal governments. All Americans who
have resided in the Islands for a year
are citizens of the Territory. In the
matter Of naturalization, residence OF
I've years is regarded as equivalent 20
five years residence in the United
States. or this class a declaration Of
intentions Is not required. BY re-
nouncing allegiance to their former
nation and taking the oath to support
the constitution and laws of the Unit
ed States they are acknowledgements
to the rights, privileges ana protection
of the United States.
lie contract labor law Is wiped out
and all contracts made under the Ha-
waiian contract labor law are declared
null and void. No person can be i'm
prisoned for debt or the non payment
Of taxes.
The first election takes place Nov.
6. 1900, although the Governor is au-
thorized to call special election on
thirty days notice. All citizens who
can read and write the English or Ha-
waiian language, who have resided in
the Territory one year. and have regis |
tered in the district three months pre-
yious to the election are entitled to
vote for Senators and Representatives.
One Of the most important changes
from former conditions is the require
ment that Legislative representatives
must be elected from the district in
which they are qualified to vote. This
will do away with the old method of
Honolulu residents being elected from
outside districts. The payment or nom
payment Of taxes has no effect upon a
citizens right to vote.
The present land laws are continued
In force, and subject to the approval
Of the Preisedtn" all land transac-
tons by the Hawaiian government
since July 7, 1898 are ratified and con-
firmed.
Inv bhilSu oldltS lIdDOI commas
sioner is charged with the duty of in
vestigating labor conditions and re-
porting to Congress.
The organization of the courts re-
mains the same as at present with the
addition OF grand jury and a Federal
District Court. No race division is al
lowed in juries and u unanimous YER
dict is required to convict.
To Hawaii is left exclusive control
Of local quarantine. All vessels of Ha-
waiian register on August ~, 1898 are
given American registry; the ships
Star Of France, Euterpe, Star of Rus
sia, Falls of Clyde and Wilscott are
granted American registry American
coastwise laws are extended to the
Islands thus preventing ships under
foreign registry from trading between
ports of the Islands and the Coast. |