The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-11-21
UNCLE SIM WILL TEST
THOSE LAND LEASES
Suit on Behalf of Unit
ed States to be
Filed Soon.
DENIALS that FAIL TO DENY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BAIRD
PROCEEDING TO FOLLOW
OUT INSTRUCTIONS.
And These Instructions are for
Him to Enter Suit Against
the Territory N Name
OF United States.
DENIALS that FAIL TO DENY


Within thirty days suits will be filed
on behalf of the United States to set
aside all grants. sales and leases of pub-
lie lands made by the territorial govern
ment Of Hawaii since the 18th day OF
June. 1900.
The Republican is in position TO state
this as an abolute fact despite the state
ment sent out from Washington to the
effect that the department of justice de-
MED that Attorney General John W.
Griggs had instructed District Attorney
Baird 10 institute suits TO set aside all
grants. sales. franchises and leases in
Hawaii granted since September -.
1899.
Readers of The Republican will re-
member that in publishing the dispatch
from Washington yesterday morning it
was accompanied by a short interview
with District Attorney Baird. in which
that gentleman very automatically said /:
Il see that this dispatch has
been carefully worded. OF course
you will say in your paper for me
that | have never made any claim
as to what my instructions are. nor
have | divulged them to anyone. |
will say. however that there is
nothing in the above dispatch con-
trary TO the facts. Ny instruc-
tions from Attorney General Griggs
are being observed and carried out.
and these | have no. disclosed. My
instructions are exactly the same as
they were at the time The Repub-
lican published its first articles upon
the matter"
The Republican realizes the position
in winch Mr.. Baird is placed. Being
the district attorney for the United
States he has no right. even if he so de-
sired. TO talk about his instructions from
Washington, or to say in advance of the
filing of a suit on behalf of the national
government that such a suit was to be
filed. but The Republican knows whereof
il speaks when it says that such suit
will be filed against the Territory OF
Hawaii by Col Baird, in the name of the
United States. which suit will seek to
set aside and have declared void all
grants. sales and leases of public land
made by the territorial officials since the
18th day of June. 1900. 1t will only go
back to this date for the reason that ia
for the suit it was found that
no grant. sale or lease was made by the
local government between the 2Sth day
of September. 1899. and the 14th day of
Iune. 1900. and all grants sales and
leases made between the 18th day of
August. 1898, and the 2Sth day of Sep
by congress in section 13 of the Organic
Act of the territory.
Mr.. Baird says: My instructions
are exactly the same as they We're NJ
the time The Republican published its
first articles upon the matter" The
Republican knows positively that these
were for Mr. Baird to file
suit in the name of the United States
OF America 10 set aside all grants. sales
and leases of the public land in this ter
ritory made since the 18th day of June.
1900. OF course Mr.. Baird could not
disclose his Instructions. but this papc:
has in its possession positive informa-
ton as TO what his instructions are.
Neither does the department of justice
want its plans known previous TO their
being carried into execution. but il viii
be observed by carefully reading the So
called denial from Washington that It
does not deny one word of what The
Republican published on the morning OF
November Il. Ii does specifically state.
however. in substantiation of what The
Republican published. that the attorney
general of the United States. in the per
iod between July Z. 1898. and April so
1900. rendered two opinions 10 the effect
that under the Hawaiian laws then in
force there was no power 10 sell fran
,hises and public lands Attorney Cen
eral Grisgs still holds TO the same opir-
ion as twice rendered from his Office and
il is because of his still holding to this
opinion that the suits are to be filed by
District Attorney Baird under instrue-
ions from the attorney general of the
United States
Ii any confirmation OF The Repuo-
leans exclusive publication of the fact
.hat the suit was TO be brought were
needed it was furnished immediately fof-
owing the first publication by the terri
orial officials themselves. Land Com
missioner Jacob Brown said on Ncven-
'er q. as published in The Republican
N the 1th. that the subject of the suits
lad been discussed at the meeting of the !.
.SNcutiye council the day before and /
hat be had brought up the question
limself. having been requested by Dis |
rict Attorney Baird to furnish the de- /
'artment of justice with lisr OF all the j
aasis granted sold or leased since the /
sth day Of September. 1899, by the |
erritorial government