The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-24
ASKED To
VISIT HERE
Uncle Sans Man
Is Generally
Wanted.
COMMISSIONER
HERMANN'S VIEWS
He suggests Local Land Office
for the Entire Island
Group.

WASHINGTON. May 2s.-Conmis
sioner Hermann of the General Lane
Office, continues to receive letters from
Delegate Wilcox and other prominent
Hawaiians, asking him to visit the ISL
ands and make a thorough examination
OF their public lands and land laws, Sc
that he My comprehensively deal with
land problem arising in the islands
should Congress extend to them the
s.. United States land laws, or give the
! General Land Office supervision under
some other system. To these, as to
Iprevious requests, the commissioner has
stances he does not feel justified in I'M
dertaking the trip, although he recog-
nizes that considerable benefit might
arise therefrom.
i The commissioner thinks such a trip
should not be made unless authorized
by Congress If the Hawaiian people in
terested in securing more satisfac-
tory system of public land administra-
/ ton bring sufficient influence to bear
| upon Congress to secure an authorize
ton of such tour of inspection, the
take the journey, upon specific lines
| laid down, making an investigation of
such points as were adjudged worthy of
inspection.
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 a senti-
ment in Congress in favor of extending
the public fand 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 1t 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 and satisfactory
legislation from Congress it is neces-
sary that some recognized official of
this Government should make a per-
sonal investigation and report upon his |
field observations
Last winter / expressed my views on |
this NATTER continued the commits
sioner. and l found that my views
were largely met with the approval of
Delegate Wilcox. / think the broad
provisions of the general land laws of
the United States would be inapplicable
to Hawaii in various particulars, es-
oecially as regards the most important
aw, the homestead act. l would OBJ
ect to the extension of the homestead
aw as a whole, without qualification,
because of the limited supply of what
night be termed homestead lands: that
S to say, such lands as are agricultural
n quality. Moreover, the great value
# Hawaiian lands, together with their
normous productiveness, render it nee
ssary that homesteads should be very !.
United in area. The maximum could
re fixed at twenty acres, instead of 100
cres, as is now allowed in the United
tates. These lands which | refer to as
omestead lands are now occupied UNI
er leases, many of which are about to
Xpire, and if some form OF homestead
aW were now in force in Hawaii these
inds could be finally disposed of by the d
government under such law AS it
), however, these expiring leases viii
ave to be renewed.
The classification of the lands in the
hawaiian Islands is improperly made
here should be a new and different
asslhcation than that which now ex-
It's in the public system Then again
here is a defect apparent in the
lethod of surveys which have been
raeticed in the islands. l further rec
snlze that for the purpose of adjustica-
on between contestants the system =
INCH has been so long employed in the
oVernment service in the United =
.ates, and which has been so success
Il and so popular, to-wit, the local land
nee, with its register and receiver. -
lould be adopted
In this connection / would suggest
lie local land office for the entire ISL
IDS, with the register and receiver at
onolulu, to meet the people, and de- -
lie all contests in the original in
ance,with right of appeal to the gem
al land office and further appeal to -
Secretary of the Interior"
me commissioner explained that m -
the present law all matters pertain
to the disposal of public lands in
avail must be addressed to the Presi-
Mt OF the United States. Under this
" the disposal of these public lands
practically suspended as the Presi-
ut is only authorized to renew leases.
W legislation will be necessary before
ese lands can be taken up under the =
mestead or any other law.