The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-11
CONGRESS
MUST Be
INFORMED
HaWaiianS Want an
Investigation
Ordered.
AMERICAN PLAN
WITH CHANGES
Notifications to Fit Local. Con-
ditions-What Sugar Men Say
of Land Recommendations.

| YYAwAIIANS who have read and
considered the message OF the
AA President see in the reference to
Hawaii an indication that there will be
a thorough investigation Of the land
conditions. The consensus is that Con
gress viii not go the length of changing
the system of land tenure and settle
nent here without first becoming thor
oughIy acquainted with the methods
which govern the public domain.
1T has always been the hope % -he
local government that there should be
drawn to the islands small farmers,
said Mr. w. o. Smith yesterday, "and
the laws were framed to make this pos
sible. In the leases which have been
made in recent years there is a clause
which permits the taking over by the
government of such lands as may be
useful for homesteads and this very in
terest shown in the securing of farmers
has been the rule which has governed
the entire policy of the government. We
all hope to see the day when the small
put to the extent that the lands Of the
Territory which are available for the
cultivation of varied crops viii be filled
with home makers.
Personally I do not see that there
will be such a consummation for many
years. There viii be a great future for
small farming when the time comes
that through rapid service it will be
possible to send various kinds of fruits
and vegetables TO California during the
season when the crops there are not in
the market. Then, too. the time is not
far distant when through the increased
business of this port there will be a
constant market here for the output OF
the farms. which Will enable the farm
ers to secure a remuneratfve return
upon their investment and for their la
bors.
None of US want TO see this country
become an Oriental district. 1t was par
TALLY my fear that this would result
that made me an annexationist, though
for many years I doubted the wisdom
of that policy. We want a good citi-
the small farmer will be able TO main
tain his family and educate his children
from the products OF his farm, the peO-
pie Of the Territory will welcome the
day"
In my opinion there is a lack of com
plete understanding of conditions upon
the part Of the President" said Mr.. z.
D. Tenney of Castle & Cooke yesterday.
and I am hopeful that there will be
done until there has been a
careful examination of the lands and
the system under which they are held
and distributed Should this be done
there viii be such adaptations Of the
system which is in force n the rest OF
the United States as viii give to this
the alterations which are nee
sssary to properly protect the indus
tries and the people as well. There are
conditions here which obtain in no 9TH
er State or Territory. anC these should
De considered by a commission before
here is legislation which would affect
The lands.
The physical conformation Of the ISL
lnds would render impossible the IL
-ect application of the homestead laws.
There would be lands which would be
IS useless as a quarter-section in the
Nevada desert or upon the top OF the
Rocky mountains. For instance, ku-
cana IN the middle OF q great planta-
Ion would be worth not a dollar an
acre, unless there was an agre- -ment
which would provide for the water for
IS cultivation. a quarter section in
Eva plantation alone would not be
rOrth settling upon by farmer, unless
le had perhaps ,0O0 to put down
jumping plant for the securing Of wa
er for the frriga ton Of his crop.
''As to the working of Anglo-Saxons
n the cane fields the Eva plantation
nee made an experiment and had