The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-11-08
HAWAII
At THE
CAPITAL
Some Busy Days
For Secretary
Cooper.
VYYAsHINGToN. ID, C.. Oct. 90
w Secretary Henry L. Cooper left
w no-o so5,y o,1 axp.C,s IA sail

"1ASHlNGTt,N' H. u OCT 20
w Secretary Henry Il. Cooper left
w here today and expects to sail
by the steamship Alameda for Homo
lu'u. His original intention to leave
Washington October "a was changed
BY the later day fixed for him to re-
ceive the thirty-third degree in Mason
ry. That honor was conferred upon him
last evening friday and, an he had his
department work well completed, he
hastened westward. y SSri''G
Mr.. Cooper has attended the various
events connected with the. Scotch Rite
this week. There were two elegant BAN
quets held at the new Wizards Hotel.
which is the finest hotel now South OF
New York and which has Just been
opened to the public, large company
ef distinguished men, who have assem-
bled from all over the country. were
present. Mr.. Cooper felt gratiiied that
he succeeded in getting three high Ma
sons from Hawaii advanced to the de-
gres OF Knight Commander. This Is IN
honorary degree and Is the stepping
stone to the thirty-third and last de-
gree in Scottish Rite Masonry. The
Masons thus honored are all from Ho-
nolulu, Mr.. J. d. Tucker. Mr., Frederick
Whitney. and Mr.. William ]. Pratt.
The case of Lieut.. Howells. u. S. A..
who married in Honolulu and who was
court-martialed and sentenced to dis
missal from the army on a charge Of
drunkenness, Is now before the War
Department for review. Mr.. Cooper is
much interested in the case and called
upon Acting Secretary of War Sanger
and other officials to ascertain whether
anything could be done towards allevi-
ating the punishment decreed. He Is
said to have gained no definite informa-
ton as to whether anything could be
done to save Lieut.. Howelis from dis
pissal. The case is the first Of it's
kind to come up during President
Roosevelt's administration and that is
regarded as rather unfortunate for
Lieut.. HowellR as the final disposal
may be regarded as a precedent, so far
as President Roosevelt Is concerned.
The records of the case are said to
show pretty harsh condition of things.
II Is understood that the lieutenant is
accused OF taking a battery out on
parade, while under the influence of
liquor, and the guns were pretty rough
ly used. ''"
The manner OF deciding property in
the territory has been discussed this
week between Secretary Cooper and Of
ficials at the Interior Department with
the understanding that Mr.. Cooper shall
submit brief in behalf of his con-
tention after ne has returned to Ha-
wall. Mr.. Cooper's contention IL that
in the question of exchange. between
the territory and individuals. of land
required for public improvements, such
as the opening OF roads. sites for pub
lie buildings. and the like. and where
the exchanges are made for the purpose
of perfecting titles in the nature of
partition between the territory and in
dividuals. the title should be taken in
the name of the territory. Mr.. Cooper
holds that to take the title In the name
OF the Federal government would be
creating another class of lands, other
than exists at the present time and that
this new class of lands, so created.
would be subject to no existing law.
1t would probably require special &C.
of Congress-
Wednesday, Oct. "a. Mr.. Cooper took
his first vacation since he returned from
Boston-a short trip up to Frederick,
Nd. which is some fifty miles out Of
Washington City. He has been working
steadily since the last letter was writ
ten to the Advertiser in the Treasury,
War and Interior Departments. consult
ing with the officials about details oe
the territorial government. The last
two chapters of his annual report have
been pu. in type and he and Secretary
Hitchcock went over all the proofs be-
fore he started for Honolulu. Secretary
Hitchcock is understood to have APP
nj all