The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-12
!. TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
NH RE PROVIDED FOR THE HA-
WAIIAN ISLANDS.


mill VIII he Reported to the House
-, chairman Knox TO-day-Eariy
,o,ion Is Necessary as Many Per-
,,,.xing Questions Have Arisen.
n,siness in Some Cases Is at
stnudstiII-Features of the Govern
,,ept That Is Proposed.
1,-,ghington, Feb. 11.-Representative
~ Knox of Massachusetts, chairman
- +na House Committee on Territories,
',.s completed his report upon the bill
4.r tl,a creation of the territorial form or
-.,,,.rnment in Hawaii and it will be sub
,,itteI to the House tomorrow.
The report is a very voluminous docu-
,oent of 10S pages, going exhaustively into
oil the questions involved and thoroughly
covering every phase of the bill which
,ba aommittee has agreed upon after
many. hearings and much Investigation.
chairman Knox says there is imperative
reed of the early enactment of an or
,,oric act for Hawaii as it has become APP
rsr4nt that there is much doubt of the
svtent of the power granted to the local
government of Hawaii by the provisions
~ The Joint resolution of annexation. and
in many important respects there is s ONE
thing ike an interregnum in Hawaii.
Many doubtful questions of admiralty
and maritime jurisdiction have arisen, as
well as of criminal procedure, rendering
if uncertain whether there is now any
tribunal for the decision of important
questions affecting properly, and any ex-
istine method by which criminals may be
indicted or legal juries empanelled for
their trial.
business Is at a StantlstiII.
There is also grave doubt concerning the
mower of the Hawaiian government to
grant franchises for industrial and COM
merciaI enterprises, or for railroads which
have been projected. In many respects
the business affairs of the territory are
brought to a standstiI. Many Americans
have bought government land since annex
at,ou. on which they have built residences
and planted crops, but their land titles are
now in dispute and cannot be settled until
the passage Of this bill
Meanwhile no Americans can settle in
Hawaii on homesteads or land to be
bought from the government, and very
desirable class of citizens is thereby shut
out of this new territory. The local gov
ernment 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 widen
ing and Strengthening the streets of Hon
oluiu
Plague Cost Much Money.
The presence in that city of the bubonic
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 expendi-
lures and to compensate the owners of
buildings which have been burned in the
effort TO suppress the pestilence, it is
proper and just that a territorial legis-
lature be provided by Congress with no
unnecessary delay.
Since the adoption of the resolution of
annexation probably 25,000 japanese con-
tract laborers have been brought into the
islands and their number will be in
creased by delay in extending the laws
of the United States to the islands
The Government Proposed.
The government proposed by the bill
for the Hawaiian Islands is territorial in
form, similar to that of the later terri
tories of the United States-a Governor,
secretary, both appointed by the Presl-
dent treasurer, attorney general COM
missioner of public lands, commissioner
of agriculture and forestry, superintend-
ent of public works, superintendent OF
public instruction, auditor and deputy au-
ditor, surveyor, and high sheriff, APP
pointed by the Governor
A legislature is provided, consisting of a
Senate and House of Representatives,
elected by the people. The territory is to
be represented by a delegate in Congress.
The territory is made a judicial district
Of the United States, with district court.
The judicial power of the territory is
vested in a Supreme Court, and in super
Tor Courts to be tablished by the Legis-
lature The constitution and laws of the
United States locally applicable, are eX-
tended over the new territory, and the
laws of Hawaii not inconsistent with the
constitution or laws of the United States
are continued in force The territory is
made customs and revenue district,
and becomes subject to the tariff laws
of the United States.
The People Can Govern.
Chairman Knox says
The American idea of universal suffrage
presupposes that the body of citizens who
are to exercise it in a free and independent
manner have, by inheritance or educa-
ton. such knowledge and appreciation of
the responsibilities of free suffrage and of
a full participation in the sovereignty IT
The country as TO be able to maintain a
republican government"
Tried by this test, he says, the Ha-
waiian people met the requirements for
the government proposed.
The report discusses the population of
the islands, with view to establishing
this proposition. OF the 10000 inhabitants
in 1896, 31,019 were Hawaiians S,4S5 part
Hawaiians, 3,0S6 Americans. 2,250 British,
l,i32 Germans, 10l French, 37S Norwegians'
1871 Portuguese, 24,407 Japanese. 2,616
Chinese and Loss of other nationaiities.
The population of the Hawaiian Is
lands at present may be placed at more
than 10000 mostly Chinese and Japanese.
With the passage of the bill the Chinese
will he excluded and the Importation of
Japanese contract laborers prohibited.
Neither the Chinese nor Japanese have
political power and were not eligible to
citizenship under the republic of Hawaii,
nor could they obtain homestead rights.
The Chinese have come to Hawaii in
tending to return to their native land