The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-15
THE
CAPITAL
Bin ger Hermann
May Lose His
Land Job.
NEW ZEALAND'S
HAWAII SCHEME.
Hawaii and Porto Rico not Num-
bered Among "lsland Possess
sions" of America.

WASHINGTON, April Lit looks as
the General Land Office, who, by the
way is a good friend to Hawaii and her
interests and who suggested the ap-
pointing of a commission to be sent to
Hawaii this summer 20 look into the
laid matters theme is likely tD lose
his place. Color is given to ,his re-
port from the fact that number of
prominent Republicans, including ex-
Senator Carter of Montana, have re-
Gently written President Mckinley urg
ing the retention of Binger Hermann.
as Commissioner of the General Land
Office. From what can be learned there
seems to be considerable friction be-
tween Secretary Hitchcock of the In
terror Department, and Commissioner
Hermann. This friction, it is said,
dates back several months.
/ Commissioner Hermann's tenure of
office will expire shortly, and it is the
knowledge that he is not on, the best
of terms with the Secretary Of the In
lterior that has caused the Commission
I-ers friends to come to the front and
ltry to save him. The. man most gen
lerally mentioned as the probable SIC
lcessor to Commissioner Hermann is
William r. Merriam Director Of the
Census. 1t is pointed out that Director
Merriam is thoroughly acquainted with
the land laws, and is in every way
lqualified to fill the Office and that his
appointment would be satisfactory to
the Western interests.
! A friend of Director Merrian's is
lquoted as saying that the position of
Commissioner of the General Land Of
fee would be 'congenial, although the
salary is not as large as that of the
| Director of Census. But there is this
difference to compensate-the importu-
mites for appointment are less. 1t also
lis pointed out that there Is to be large
| reduction in the force of clerks en-
lployed in the Census in the near future.
and, in order to escape the wrath to
leone Director Merriam would not hesi-
1tate to accept the Commissionership of
the General Land Office, if it is rendered
Ito him. Whether Director Merriam is
Ito be Commissioner Hermann's success
lsor or not ii seems to be generally ac-
Icepted that change in the Land Office
soon will be made.
BARRED TO FOREIGN BOTTOMS.
The people of Hawaii and those OF
New Zealand win not see their desire
of having New Zealand secure from this
Government the privilege of trading
| between San Francisco and Honolulu
| through the New Zealand subsidized
steamship lines consummated. At the
State Department it was stated that
| this was brought about, not through
any disposition on the part of this Gov
ernment to refuse the government of
New Zealand the privilege, but solely
through the force Of existing law. 1t
has been held that, in the eye of the
law, trade between the Hawaiian ISL
ands and the United States is coasting
trade. and this may not be enjoved by
any foreign vessel. The State Depart
ment, therefore, is. powerless to even
enter upon negotiations on this sub
! ject realizing that it could not grant
! the privilege. 1t is of course, possible
| to grant this privilege in a distinct
treaty stipulation, but the Department
is convinced that such treaty would
not be ratified.
| STATUS OF HAWAII
In an order recently issued Postmas-
ter General Smith gives the status OF
Hawaii. the Philippines. Guam, etc.
This order contains the following note:
| Mote 1. In this order Hawaii and
Porto Rico are included in the term
| United States,' and Guam. Tutuila, and
the Philippine archipelago are included
| in the term island possessions
| The order goes into details regarding
the fixing of domestic postage rates and
icfassiications between the United
/ States and its island possessions and
Cuba and the military service and naval
lservice in China; for the forwarding of
all mail matter to persons in the United
States service and making these rates
land conditions apply, as far as practi-
leable, to gifts or souvenirs In unsealed
packages and parcels OF mail for or
from persons IN the United States ser
lvice and extending our penalty and
franked mail matter privileges and
conditions to mails for. from, or be-
tween Cuba, Guam, the Philippine
archipelago, and Tutuila.
The order applies our domestic rates
land conditions to all United States mail
Ito Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, OF Tu-
ltuia, including all adjacent islands or
the Samoan group which are posses
sions of the United States, and from
!, tthose islands TO the United States
1 HARRY DAVIS.