Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-12


| territory was inserted for the reason that
| 1t was deemed advisable that the governor
OF q territory so remote. and where condt-
tons were so different from those prevail
| ing in the mainland, should have greater
] familiarity with the needs Of the territory
he was to govern than mere indefinite resi-
dence would assure. y
The report says the provisions Of the
| bill, relating to the public lands Of Ha-
wall, continuing the Hawaiian land laws
! in force and ratifying and confirming the
transactions made since annexation. have
received the careful attention of the COM
mittee. IL
Continuing Land Laws.
Section 70 provides for the continuing in
force Of the existing land laws of Hawaii
until Congress shall otherwise provide, but
to meet objections to the present land laws
1t is provided that all land transactions
should receive the approval of the Secre-
tary Of the Interior, who might also re-
verse, modify, suspend or annul any of said
transactions.
The report discusses the judicial system
now existing In Hawaii, concluding that 1t
is wise and safe to provide for the organ
lLatloh OF the territorial courts of the ter
rltory OF Hawaii by substantially continu-
ing them as now existing under the repub-
present bill.
The amendment deprivng the legislature
OF Hawaii of power of impeaching the chief
Justice and justices of the supreme court
was made on account of the change in the
method OF their appointment from the gov
ernor OF the territory to the President Of
the United States, and it was deemed un-
wise to give this power to remove from
on1ce judges appointed by the President,
and further reason is that the power of re-
moVal Is given to the President by the bill.
Revenue Tariff Laws.
Provision is made for the administration
of the revenue and tariff laws of the United
t.,
wall. when the present bill shall become
law. The extension of the customs laws
| and regulations Of the United States to the
Islands will be of great advantage to the
United States, in that it increases the pro-
duction of goods imported from the United
states states into Hawaii as against foreign ma
TONS and thus also increases the amount
of duties which will be received and which
go to the United States
The effect upon the products of Hawaii
imported into the United States is mini
mized by the reciprocity treaty which ex-
lstea between Hawaii and the Unit ed
States admitting free into the United States
large portion of the products of Hawaii
The Lcper Question.
me amendment providing for striking out
the provision that the United States should
share in the cost of the maintenance of the
leper settlement of the island of Molokai
the report says, was made at the earnest
request of the representatives of the Ha-
wailan government. For more than thirty
years the Hawaiian government has been
dealing with the question of eprosy and at
tempting to eradicate the disease
Inc thorough system of segregation was
adopted and place selected on the island
OF Molokaf. where a settlement was estab-
fished. The efforts have been so far sue
cessful, with the exception of the patients,
who. together with three four hundred
assistants and helpers, form 4 unique and
IpSmp1
those VINO are conversant with the facts
That 1t would be great misfortune to have
the settlement disturbed.
IN attemp, has been made here tofnre TO
obtain the consent of the Ha waiian govern
ment to receive certain lepers from the
pest house in San Francisco. There also
was like attempt made l'y the authorities
IN Samoa. If the United States should bear
the expense, or a portion of the expense of
maintaining these settlements 1t might lead
to the sending Of lepers from other parts
or the country to Molokai. The annual ex-
is $4,000
The provisions granting American regis
try to vessels carrying Hawaiian register,
whether permanent temporary, on Au-
gust i, 1898, together with certain particu-
larly enumerated vessels, was made to
meet the cases of certain vessels bought
in good faith and with intention of Ha-
Wa1ian registry. They are very few in
number, and in addition to those particu-
larry mentioned there are five others which
receive the benefit of the provisions of this
section.
Registration of Chinese.
The provision Of method in which the
Chinese now in Hawaii may obtain certifi-
Gates of residence is obviously to bring the
Chinese in Hawaii under the laws of the
United States. The purpose of this section
and the general purpose Of the bill, wher-
ever possible to make said purpose eff
fective, is that the annexation of the Ha-
waiian Islands may benefit and not injure
American labor.
The annexation of the Hawaiian Islands
in the future will be of great advantage
to the United States commercially, as it al
ready has been.
The exports Of the United States to the
Hawaiian Islands for eleven months, end
ing with November, We're 81, S45 800 in 1898
1891 100; in 1899, SO, 2O8,1 1877 The imports
for the same periods from the Hawaiian
Islands into the United States We're in 1897
$15, 1O4 242; in 1895 SIG, 455, III; In 1899 s21-
G12,062. The report says that whether it be
true as a general proposition that trade
follows the flag. certainly in relation to
Hawaii 1t may be truthfully said that trade
has followed the flag.