The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-16
THE HAW AuAN BILL.
The Senate Foreign Relations Conn
mittce Reports Amendments.


mittce Reports Amendments.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations has reported favorably the bill
| amending the act providing for a govern
ment for the Territory of Hawaii. The re-
port states that by the joint resolution
approved as aforesaid. it is provided,
| among other things. as follows:
The public debt of the Republic OF
Hawaii. lawfully existing at the date OF
the passage of this joint resolution, includ-
ing the amounts due to depositors In the
Hawaiian Postal Savings Bank. is hereby
assumed by the Government of the United
States, but the liability of the United
States in this regard shall in no case ex-
coed $i,00O.GO0. So long however, as the
existing government and the present COM
mercial relations of the Hawaiian Islands
are continued as hereinbefore provided,
said Government shall continue to pay the
interest on said debt
1T appears that the gross public debt
of Hawaii on August u, 1898. as shown by
the report of the Minister of Finance, was
S4,603, 4I.34, and that there was cash in the
treasury. certified to by the registrar. to
the amount of s546. 73904.
1T appears also that the bonded debt Of
Hawaii at the same time was S3.sS9. 780 all
of which, except $780,. 900. is now redeem
able-that is to say. SO. 127.7C
1t appears also that the Hawaiian Pos
tai Savings Bank which was established in
1884, had at that time sS36,297.34 on de-
post due to 1866 depositors Of various
nationalities. and in addition deposits Of
sums exceeding $500 due to sixty eight spe-
clsl depositors, amounting to ST., $50 total
CT S3ii,C47.34
he amended section requires all money
on deposit in the Hawaiian Postal Savings
Bank to be turned over to the Treasurer of
the United States on July 1, Of this year,
instead of next year.
1T places the Secretary in charge of all
OF the assets Of the bank. with authority
to convert the same into money and to ap-
point proper agents, such agents to give
sufficient bond
1T further provides that the money so
turned over to the Treasurer of the United
States and that collected from the assets
OF the bank shall be deposited in the
Treasury to the credit OF the Treasurer
Of the United States.
1T is further provided by Senate bill
1850 that in execution of the agreement of
the United States in the joint resolution
Of July T. 1898, the Secretary of the Treas
ury shall pay of the public debt of the
OF the passage OF the said joint resolution,
an amount not exceeding in all 100000
including the sum required to pay the
depositors in the Hawaiian Postal Savings
Bank as provided in the act of April 80,
1900. as amended by this bill.
1T app.opriates SO much money as shall
be necessary to pay the same, and also
appropriates such an amount as may
be necessary to pay any accruing interest
IN ft~ ~ I-t,N
States may be liable under the joint reso-
luton Of July I, 1898, and in addition
thereto an amount not exceeding $4,000,
or SO much as may be necessary to pay the
expenses CT executing this resolution.
1t Will be observed that the joint reso-
luton OF July Z, 1893, which assumes the
public debt OF the Republic of Hawaii, in
Guiding the amount due depositors in the
Postal Savings Bank to the extent of S4,-
00O.CG0. requires that the Hawaiian Gov
eminent shall continue to pay the inter-
est on said debt so long as the existing
Government and the present commercial
relations Of the Hawaiian Islands are con-
tinued' This obligation upon the Hawaiian
Government ceases when the government
OF July Z. 1898. is superseded by the gov
eminent provided for in AN act to provide
government for the Territory of Hawaii
approved April 80 1900-that Is to say.
forty-hVe days after the approval of said
act. to wit. June is. 1900 (See section
104 of act of April 30. 1900 The interest
after that date is left unprovided for and
should be assumed by the United States
if. indeed, it is not assumed by fair con-
struction of the act of July I. 1898
III this is promptly done. 1t will be a
small matter, as only $4,000 of the pub,
lie debt is not now redeenrable, and that
amount is redeemable in 1901. Only small
portion OF the deposits In the Hawaiian
Postal Savings Bank-that is to say. ST.
750-carries interest, and all Of these de-
posits in the Postal Savings Bank are to
be met by deposits and assets OF the
bank