The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-11

including those formerly known as the
crown lands; the territorial land laws,
the manner CT disposition of the public
lands-which is now under territorial
control, the general government never
having extended any of the land laws
of the United States to that territory.
Our committee carefully inquired in
to those conditiins more particularly
affected by the organic act with a
view of determining what if any
amendments should be made to that
act by Congress; also made diligent in
quiry into the local laws now in force
in the territory, and of the operations
of the government hereunder with
view of determining as to the Repub
lican and Democratic character of
each.
THE committee also made investiga
tions, with a view of enabling the COM
mittee and congress to reach correct
conclusions as to whether any legisla-
ton is desirable and necessary in con-
nection with the public lands of the
territory, and as to whether their dis
position should remain under the direc-
ton of congress, in the local govern
ment, or be taken charge of exclusive
ly by the general government.
investigations touching several Off
cial defalcations by territorial officials
were also made, some of which occur
red before and a number after the ar
rival of the committee in the islands.
"a careful and thorough investiga-
ton of the management of the leper
settlement on the Island of Molokai
was made, and the condition and mode
of life of these unfortunate people, with
view of determining whether the
control and management of this settle
ment should remain, as now, under the
territorial government, or be transfer
red to the government of the United
States and be placed under the marine
hospital service.
The labor question, the relations of
labor - capital, wages, the question of
restricted immigration of Chinese la
borers, of the cost of producing sugar
on the different plantations of the ISL
ands; also as to the adaptability of the
islands for raising coffee and the feas-
ibility of building up that industry in
the islands and the CONDITION of trade
and commerce generally between the
Islands and the mainland were also taxi
en- into account by the committee.
I'VE carefully investigated the fire
claims of the territory, amounting to
considerable over 81, 200, 900, arising out
of the fires incident to the plague in
December, 1899, and January, 1900, and
looked carefully into the matter in
which these claims had been inVesti-
gated by the territorial officials, as also
into the conditions that led to the de-
struction of property at that time, the
reasons for and the manner of such
destruction, all bearing upon the ques-
ton as to whether the United States
should or should not assume the pay
ment of these claims.
"A considerable amount of testimony
was taken bearing upon the question OF
the proposed irrigation ditch in the Ko-
hala district of the Island of Hawaii
and the conflicting claims of the Ha-
waiian Ditch Company and of another
company represented by the Messrs.
Gehr and their associates. This tes-
timony bore, first, upon the question
from an industrial and economic stand
point as to the ACCESSIBILITY and FEAST
bility of this enterprise, and, secondly,
as to the respective rights of the two
claimants for a franchise.
THE investigations of the committee
extended further as to the necessity for
public buildings for custom houses,
court houses and post offices in Homo
lulu and Hilo, also as to the necessity
for the recoinage into United States
coins in the United States mint, of
some 5000, 900 of Hawaiian silver coins.
Especial attention was also given to
the question as to the advisability of