The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-26
AGENT BROWNS MISSION
WHAT HE WENT To WASHINGTON
FOR
Governor Dole Explains Why Tie lje-
fused to Give Some Correspondence
The House Asked For.


The report from the House Committee
that conferred with the governor i1 t..
j. IT, Brown Inquiry presented vestgf-
.day contained Am the c0rreSpoudcurp
that passed between the executive and
Brown and Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock. ON the subject of Browns
mission The most importaut was She
first letter. given To- Brown To- present
TO- Hitcbcock ON arrival i'm Washington
n stated mo reasons for Browns trim
a. he fine decision riyan Inn Honolulu bv
United states District Attorney Gaird.
that MANY Important government
transfers of land were ILLEGAL. and the
confusion regarding several other land
1o,,.e ,,,,,,,o tt.,, -h,t,o , rr,,isi,p
tbef no 1'', rnr75arat i' np Coui1 0cdu,ra and
hold over 400 acres of land In the TER
ritory of Hawaii about which there was
uncertainty of construction. Mr.
Browns time viii be at your disposal
while he remains I'm Washington. wrote
the governor. adding that Brown was
more fully informed ON land matters
than any other man Inn Hawaii and
would be able to supply the department
with much Information regarding laud
laws and the status conditions and
character of our public lands. their en-
vironmeut. climate and forest conditions
and the relations and interests of
lessees and settlers I'm regard to them
He can only advise YOU of the present
demand for lands from prospective sct-
Tiers lessees and purchasers"
Before Brown got to the national
capital The Baird ruling had been re-
undated hv the department. and the
other LEGAL points then occupied
Bro,yn's attention In Browns last
letter. dated az Washington February
r. lust before he started home he re-
change the Hawaiian land laws but
said that none could be got through ow-
ing TO congestion of business. and add
ed. "As to modification of the 600
acre Limitation on corpora lions / think
that IS mt This time out of the aues-
tion"
This was i'm answer TO the following
from the governor.
.,rh.r. 40 e.olir, ~ upcort,int,,
nari n. to 9he rioonins ana anniiCatio,,
ny 80 ,.iir, 80, a., ~,
words 'acouire ana hold mean title i'm
fee or do they include interests AS well?
This Is the most important question. as
the latter construction would result i'm
tba rapid reduction of the areas of land
occuDied bv various perhaps the major
ity. of the sugar plantations. to the Sc
rious preiudice. and I'm some cases re-
sr1ltine i'm the total failure. of such en-
terprises.
ut seems important to obtain an tu-
| thoritative construction Of the provisio.,
on this point. and If the result is that
corporations may not hold more than
600 acres of land either i'm fee or undcr
! lease. relief should be afforded by Con
gress.
"The nolicv of raising these iss,es at
present can hest he decided bv those IN
| touch with Congressional work. IL vo,l
! should conclude that II Is inadvisabIe To
do ANYTHING i'm this matter at this sas-
sion and no other public business relat-
! ing Ia Hawaiian land matters re1 ilres
! your attention | would advise V1ur in
! mediate return.
/ II think il would be well before leav-
! ing Washington foryou 20 talk with Mr..
/ Hermann of the Public Lands Bureau
on the subject of the Hawaiian Public
! Lands. and ascertain as far as Won NAV
! be able his views and plans in relation
| thereto. Very respectfully.
SANFORD b. DOLE"
Nh, ,o,,,a,.s,+i o,, ha+,,,oa,, Tho ,ro,,,,,.
,o,. "a ~ os ~
yvas ye,.,, friandi,, IN sririt STba ~.
c5ti,e STOOD nv b{s nositian IN not re
/ B'SANipAl