Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-04-20
PLANS FOR HAWAII.
Conferees Agree on the Govern
ment Bill.
FAVOR HOUSE MEASURE in THE MAIN
1t Establishes n Complete Form of
Government for the IsIands-Some
of the Prominent Features
of the Bill.

Washington, April 1S.-After ex-
tended meetings unanimous agree
ment was reported Tuesday by the
house and senate conferees on the Ha-
waiian government bill. The senate
conferees yielded to the house meas
ure. which passed as a substitute for
the senate bill as whole, although a
number of amendments were made.
In the main the form of government
as finally determined upon is that pro-
vided by the house.
Principal Amcndments.
The chief amendments are in pro-
viding district court instead of the
federal court organized under general
laws, and the striking out of the
house provision postponing for one
year the time for applying the coast
ing laws to Hawaii. The prohibition
OF saloons in Hawaii, as provided by
the house bill, is retained in modi-
fed form, in effect leaving the mat
ter to local option. The house provi-
sions as to the land laws are retained.
including the amendment of Repre-
sentative Newlands, of Nevada. re-
stricting the amount of land to be
held by corporation to 1000 acres
The other Newlands amendment pro-
viding for a commission to investi-
gate the labor question in Hawaii is
changed so that Commissioner of La
Dor Wright will conduct the inquiry.
The appointment of circuit judges,
which was the subject of rather ear
nest difference, was finally decided by
leaving the appointments with the
president. A synopsis of the meas
ure follows:
The bill establishes a complete form of
government for the islands. with gov
ernor and other executive officers, legis-
lature of two branches. and a judicial
branch consisting of supreme court cir
cult courts and inferior courts. The bill
provides that Hawaii shall be represent
ed in congress by delegate who shall
have seat in the house of representatives
with right to debate but not vote. The
delegate to congress is to be chosen at an
election of the people. There is no tariff
provision in the BILL as the tariff laws
of the United States are extended over
the island. and the territory of Hawaii
is specifically made "a customs district
OF the United States" with ports of en-
try at Honolulu, Hilo, Hahukona and
Kahului.
AS to the crown lands, which have been
source of some controversy, it is pro-
vided: THAT the portion of the public
domain heretofore known as crown lands
is hereby declared to have been, on Au-
gust II, 1898, and prior thereto, the prop
erty of the Hawaiian government and to
be free and clear from any trust of or con-
corning the same, and from all claim of
any nature whatsoever, upon the rents
Issues and profits thereof. 1t shall be
subject to alienation and other uses as
may be provided by law"
The Chinese on the island are given one
year to obtain certificates of residence,
but the conferees struck out the amend
ment inserted by Representative Dear
mond. of Missouri, providing that "all Chi
nese and other Asiatics" arriving since
the island was acquired by the United
States shall depart within one year or
else be deported by the government This
latter provision was omitted in view of
he belief that the Japanese have secured |
| treaty status in Hawaii and that their |
forcible deportation by the United States |
would invite a serious and needless breach |
with Japan