The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-26

A104NA4A1A aAAAA AN-- 49,
wished for some information as to
what il meant
Mr.. Gilallan-They have done moth.
ing in the way OF law at all TO give
you help?
The Governor-In Congress2
Mr. GiIhsIsn-Yes.
The Governor-No. they have not
done anything. After Mr.. Brown was
on his way. almost as soon as he had
left the city. had letter from Sccre-
tary Hitchcock enclosing letter from
General for the Interior Department.
which took the opposite of Mr.. Baird's
contention
When United States Attorney Baird
made this point sent letter to If.
Hitchcock. the Secretary Of the In
terror. and this was in reply thereto.
Mr.. Baird had forwarded his opinion
70 the Attorney General. and Mr.. Van
deveuter said there was nothing In
the contention Upon receipt OF the
letter the question was sufficiently
clear. so that the most important OBJ
feet OF Mr. Browns trip was disposed
Of before he got there.
Immediately upon Mr. Browns 1r-
rival In Washington he wrote the fol
lowing letters. which I received jam
AIRY 18th:
-The Raleigh" Washington, d. c..
January 2. 1901.
Sanford B. Dole Esq. Governor Of the
Territory Of Hawaii
Sir:-I beg 20 notify you OF my ar
rival in Washington yesterday New
Years Day.. I presented your letter
to the Secretary OF the Interior this
morning expressing my desire to fur
nish any Information in my power re-
Iating to Hawaiian land matters as oc-
easion might arise.
The Secretary assumes that ] would
cooperate with our delegate in any such
matters and shall at an early date see
Mr Wilcox with a view to learning
IL possible what changes, or legislation
he may be seeking in that direction.
Desiring to know the present status
as 70 our land matters / waited upon
Mr.. .Vandevanters. Assistant Attorney
General for Interior Department and
was gratifed to know wat you are
already informed of that final appro-
val had been given TO the transactions
July Z. 1898 20 September 80. 1899, and
that Mr.. Vandevanters opinion on the
points raised by Mr.. Baird in Honolulu.
had been given entirely in support OF
our contention.
II is not possible at this time to ex-
press any opinion as TO what may come
up during the session. but it will evil
IDENTIFY be a crowded one with small
time for consideration of our local mat
ters.
I met Mr.. Haywood today and under
stood from him that he had already
sent agreeable news relative to the
Kahn" bill regarding lepers.
With the compliments of the season.
I remain,
Yours respectfully.
(signed) J.F. BROWN.
The Governor replied:
Honolulu. Jan. 16. 1901.
Mr.. ]. F. Brown. The Raleigh Wash
ington, D. c.
Sir:-Your letter OF January I'd has
been received.
The settlement OF the contention
raised by Mr.. Baird relieves the situa-
ton as to part of the grounds on which
/ deemed i. important that you should
visit Washington.
The main point remaining relates to
the provision in section IS of the Or
Eanic Act. that no corporation. do
nestle or foreign, shall acquire and
hold real estate in Hawaii in excess of
one thousand acres" with the penalty
OF escheat for such excess.
There is feeling OF uncertainty here
rs to the meaning and application of
this provision: for instance. do the
words. acquire and hold" mean title
IN fee or do they include interests as
weIig This is the most important |
question. as the latter construction |
would result in the rapid reduction Of
the areas Of land occupied by various,
perhaps the majority. of the sugar
plantations. to the serious prejudice.
and In some cases resulting in the to-
1al failure. OF such enterprises.
1t seems important to obtain an au-
construction Of the provi-
sion on this point. and IL the result is
that corporations may not hold more
than one thousand acres OF land either
in fee or under lease. relief should be
afforded by Congress.
The policy of raising these issues at
present can best be decided by those in
touch with Congressional work II you
should conclude that /, is inadvisable
10 do anything in this matter at this
session and no other public business
relating TO Hawaiian land matters re-
CURES your attention. would advise
rour immediate return
think il would be well before leaving
for you 20 talk with AR.
hermann of the Public Land Bureau ,
IN the subject Of the Hawaiian
Public Lands. and ascertain as far as |
'ou may be able. his views and plans