The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-06-25
ASKED To
VISIT HERE
Uncle Sans Man
Is Generally
Wanted.

WASHINGTON. May 2s-,"ommis-
eioner Hermann VI the General Land
Office. continues TO receive letters from
Delegate Wilcox and other prominent
Hawaiians, asking him TO visit the ISL
ands and make thorough examination
OF their public lands and land laws, so
that he may comprehensiFely deal with
land problem arising In the ISLANDS,
should Congress extend 10 them the
United States land laws, or give the
General Land Office supervision under
some other System. To these, az TO
previous reauestsS the commissioner has
made reply that under the circum-
stances he does not feel justified In un-
dertakng the trip, although he recog-
nizes that considerable benefit might
arise therefrom.
The commissioner thinks such trip
should not be made unless authorized
by Congress If the Hawaiian people in
terested in securing a more satisfae-
tory system of public land administra-
ton bring sufficient influence to bear
upon CONGRESS to secure an authorize
ton of such a tour of inspection, the
commissioner would be glad to under
take the journey, upon specific lines
laid down, making an investigation or
such points as We're adjudged worthy of
inspection.
1.-THE old Hawaiian land laws are Still
in vogue in the islands," explains the
commissioner Under that system
there are many ways whereby the pup
lie domain Is disposed of. There is the
homestead, the cash sale, the leasehold
disposal, disposal of what are known as
grazing lands. etc. There is senti-
ment in Congress in favor of extending
the public land laws of the United
States so as to include Hawaii. Dele
gate Wilcox vigorously objects, and so,
l am informed. does the State Land
Board At the same time they do not
approve of the present system. 1t is on
this account that it is desired that
there shall be a careful investigation
made, so the conditions there can be |
observed and reported upon. In other
words, they are of the opinion that in |
order to get favorable apd satisfactory |
legislation from Congress it is neces-
sary that some recognized official of
this Government should make per-
sonal investigation and report upon his
field observations.
Last winter 1 expressed my views on
this matter" continued the commits
sioner, and l found that my views
were largely met with the approval of
Delegate Wilcox l think the broad
provisions of the general land laws of
the United States would be inapplicable
to Hawaii in various particulars es-
pecially as regards the most important
law, the homestead act | would OBJ
tect TO the extension of the homestead
law as a whole, without qualification,
because of the limited supply of what
might be termed homestead lands; that
is to say, such lands as are agricultural
in quality. Moreover, the great value
of Hawaiian lands, together with their
enormous productiveness render it nee
essary that homesteads should be very
limited in area. The maximum could
be fixed at twenty acres, instead of 160
acres, as is now allowed in the United
States. These lands which refer to as
homestead lands are now occupied un-
der leases, many of which are about to {
expire, and If some form of homestead
law were now in force in Hawaii these ,
lands could be finally disposed of by the
Government under such law AS 1t {
Is, however, these expiring leases will I
have to be renewed.
THE classification of the lands in the
There should be new and different !
than that which now eX-
SITS in the public system. Then again ,
there is a defect apparent in the !
method of surveys which have been
oracticed in the islands. l further rec a
'snize that for the purpose of adjustica e
ion between contestants the system a
which has been SO long employed in the
Government service in the United \
states, and which has been so success v
ul and so popular, to-wit, the local land &
'ffice, with its register and receiver.
hould be adopted. =
In this connection / would suggest y
ne local land office for the entire ISL
nds, with the register and receiver at
honolulu, TO meet the people, and de- ~
ide all contests in the original in =,
lance, with right of appeal to the gem n
raj land office and further appeal to ii
he Secretary OF the Interior"
The commissioner explained that I'M Il
er the present law all matters pertain
1g 10 the disposal OF public lands in y
iawaii must be addressed 10 the Presi- CO
ent Of the United states. Under this
Nv the disposal Of these public lands !
! practically suspended as the Presi- ~
ent Is only authorized 10 renew leases, y
lew legislation viii be necessary before -
lese lands can be taken up under the n,
omastead or any other law. "a