The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-12
GOVERNMENT OF HAWlII. Bill to be Submitted To-day by Chair man of Territorial Com m tttec.

Washington, Feb. 11.-Representativt w. S. Knox of Massachusetts, chair man of the house committee on terri tories has completed This report upor the bill for the creation of the territo rial form of government in Hawaii and it will be submitted to the house tomorrow. The report is a very long one, of 1OS pages, going exhaustively into all the questions involved an6 thoroughly covering every phase of the bill which the committee has agreed upon after many hearings end much in vestigation. Chairman Knox says there is imperative need of early en. actment of an organic act for Hawai- as it has become apparent that there is much doubt of the power granted tc the local government of Hawaii by the provisions of the joint resolution of | the annexation and Tn many important | respects there Is something like an in- terregnum in Hawaii.
 Many doubtful questions. of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction have arisen, as we'll as of criminal procedure render ing it uncertain whether there is now
 
 ant questions affecting property, and an existing method by which criminals may be indicted or legal juries empan- elled for their trial. There is also great doubt concerning the power of the Ha- waiian government to grant franchises for industrial and commercial enter prises or for railways which have been projected. In many respects the bus mess affairs of the territory are brought to standstill
 Many Americans have bought govern ment lands since annexation, 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 homestead or land to be bought from the government, and very desirable class of citizens is thereby ehut out of this new territory. The To- cal government is unable to make pub lie roads over any part of the public domain of Hawaii, or carry out plans based on legislation prior to annexation for widening and strengthening the streets of Honolulu.
 The form of government proposed by the bill for the Hawaiian islands is ter ritorial in form, similar to that of the late territory of the United States-that a governor, a secretary (both appointed by the president), a treasurer, attorney general, comissioner of public lands, commissioner of agriculture and for estry, superintendent of public works, superintendent of public instruction, au- ditor and deputy auditor surveyor and high sheriff, appointed by the governor.
 A legislature is provided, consisting of a senate and house of representa- tives, elected by the people. The terri tory is to be represented by delegate in congress. The territory is made a judicial district of the United States, with district court with judicial power of the territory is vested in a supreme court and in superior cort to be es- tablished by the legislature.
 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 the 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 persons who were citizens of the Republic of Hawaii on August 12, 1898, are defined in article + of the constitu- ton of Hawaii as follows:
 Article 17-All persons born or natur- alized in the Hawaiian islands and sub ject to the jurisdiction of republic are thereof.