The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-26

of the bill, which the committee has
agreed upon after many hearings and |
much investigation. Chairman Knox
says there is imperative need of early |
enactment of an organic act for Ha-
wall, as it has become apparent that |
there is much doubt of the extent OF I
the power granted to the local govern |
ment of Hawaii by the provisions OF |
the joint resolution of annexation, and |
in many important respects there is
something like an interregnum in Ha-
wall.
Many doubtful questions Of admiral
" and maritime Jurisdiction have aris-
en-, as we'll as of criminal procedure,
rendering it uncertain whether there is
now any tribunal for the decision of
| important questions affecting proper
| ty and any existing method by which
criminals may be indicted or legal jur
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
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
= |
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; a Treasurer, At
2 tOrney General, Commissioner of Pub.
/ lie Lands, Commissioner of Agricul.
/ ture and Forestry, Superintendent OF
Public Works, Superintendent of Pub
4 lie instruction, Auditor and Deputy
e Auditor, Surveyor and High Sheriff
S appointed by the Governor.
e A Legislature is provided consist
n ing of Senate and House of Repre-
n sentatives, elected by the people. TIL,
f Territory is to be represented by Del
g egate in Congress. The Territory il
: made a judicial district of the United
States, with a District Court The jul
Il dicial power of the Territory is vestet
e in a. Supreme Court and in Superio
t Courts to be established by the Legis
d lature The Constitution and laws o
: the United States locally applicable
: are extended over the new Territor,
n and the laws of Hawaii not inconsist
= ent with the Constitution and laws o
e the United States are continued il
: force. The Territory is made a Gus
s toms and revenue district and become
e subject to the tariff laws of the Unite
: States. Chairman Knox says it need
no argument to convince that if it b
" possible to give the Hawaiian Island
y a government like that of the Unite
a States Territories--a government
e which has met the approval of Con
l. gress and the American people sine
e the Constitution was adopted and ha
= proved itself adapted to the needs of
re free and progressive people-it is de
v sirable to do so.
l. The American idea of universal sui
n frage presupposes that the body of cit
er liens who are to exercise it in a FIRE
d and Independent manner have by in
lie heritance or education such knowledg
is and appreciation of the responsible
lie ties of free suffrage and of full PAL
rs ticipation in the sovereignty of tn
Ii country as to be able to maintain re
Sc publican government. Tried by thi
test, he says, the Hawaiian people NEE
he the requirements for the governmeI
a proposed.
ID The report discusses the populatio
lg of the Islands with a view to estat
es fishing this proposition. OF the 100
to 020 inhabitants in 1896, 31,019 wer
lie Hawaiians, S,4S5 part Hawaiians, 3,OS
n Americans, $3.50 British, 1882 Ger
at mans, 101 French, 378 Norwegians, Is
e. 100 Portuguese, 24,407 Japanese, q, 81
Mt Chinese and 1055 of other national
ties. The report says there has doub
n less been some increase in the popul;
ne ton since 1896 from American and E,
m ropean immigration and very consiC
s. cradle increase from the importatio
S. of Japanese laborers since the passaf
"a of the annexation resolution, whic
to may be taken at 10000, so that Il
IL. population of the Hawaiian Islands
re present may be placed at more tina
nd 10000. OF this population the create
er portion are Asiatics-Chinese and Jal
n anese. With the passage of this bi
ka the Chinese will be excluded and tt
Sc importation of Japanese contract Il
borers prohibited. Neither the Oh