The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-26
THE FINAL DAY
OF THE SESSION
SENATORS HAVE COMPLETED
THEIR WORK AND WILL NOW
sIFT RUBBISH FROM FACTS.

SIFT RUBBISH FROM FACTS.
The hearing-of the senatorial COM
mission closed yesterday afternoon and
the remainder of the time will be de-
voted to arranging the mass of evidence
that has been submitted. Much of this
has yet to be transcribed and there is
still considerable data being prepared
by various officials which is still to
come in.
At yesterdays session, Henry Smith,
clerk of the judiciary for twenty ears
testified in Confederation of Judge Rob-
insons figures.
/ He read a comparative statement Of
trials for 1898 and 1901 The figures in
toto were respectively 1928 and 1927. He
/ thought a third judge was absolutely
necessary to expedite the work and
prevent them being tied up. In 1900,
342 remained unfinished with two jtid-
ges on the bench In 1902 for the nine
months showed AL with supposedly
three judges missing.
A. S. Humphreys made a supple
mental statement as to the necessity
for a third judge. In regard to the
many cases of the Circuit Courts he
quoted the interregnum of courts for
three months during the plague. AS
a result of the plague also several in
surance suits came up. This point
Judge Robinson had brought up plac-
ing the number at 80. The witness cit
ed them from memory at $50. There
were many other cases continued by
consent and for other causes. Courts
were not open all the time as else
where, or If two judges could act con-
currently all the work could be done.
Judge Gear and he often looked for
work and found none.
The witness cited the resignation of
Judge Silliman and the absence of
Judge Gear left him to do all the work.
He said that 40 cases of probate could
be easily handled by a judge in one
morning. with intelligent witnesses
ten minutes was sufficient for each
case" This would make six an hour
and a seven hours morning session,
starting at in the morning. These
figures were not followed up or work.
ed out by the witness.
In the afternoon Thomas Fitch con-
tinued his testimony, calling attention
to the excessive costs of the local legal
system to the lack of appeal from the
Supreme Court and to loose methods
of allowing fresh evidence to be admit
ted into the territorial Supreme court
He advocated a pension to the queen
but denied her claim to crown lands
Chinese labor.
w. D. Alexander read a long paper
on the land system and advocated re-
tention of local land laws.
Percy M. Pond presented a young
mems petition asking for fire claims re-
lief, restricted Chinese immigration and
local expenditure of Customs receipts.
Delegate Wilcox fathered a number
of petitions presented by Hawaiians
oil tplr oil mi II Cd
signatures for city and county settle
ment, 993 asking for the cutting up OF
public lands into 40 and so acre home
stead tracts, SIS protesting against the
taking of public lands for the benefit
of the Rapid Transit Company.
]. M. PoepOe read a paper which ask
ed the senators to assist delegate Will
cox to have Congress pass a law giving
the control of public lands and utilities
to cities and counties control.
Charles Motley presented a petition
from the Kalihi camp in which the pc
titiofs asked that the camp site be eX-
changed. for public lands which shall
then be given to them in homestead lots
F. W. Beckley had a complaint from
natives at Waianae of sugar planta'
ton taking up a tract of land applied
for by natives.
George Markham stated that the gov.
ernor had refrained from advising thu
last Legislature and had stood arrogant
ly aloof He stated that he was II
touch with all citizens and that all fel
the governors appointment a mis-
take. Hawaiians had held aloof from
the government and would act the samt
way towards Americans parties TIT
people wanted city and county govern
ment. The majority was opposed t.
annexation.
Lepers were at Molokai to maxi
money for the board not to be relieved
Men We're sent there to diminish tn,
electorate so that whites could Obtain
the majority. He was in favor or res
tricted Chinese immigration
Attorney General Dole stated that al
Board of Health supplies were Dough
under bids. w. o. Smith said that thu
store at Kalaupapa was not run at
profit and the attorney general stated
that merely five per cent advance, sufh
cient to cover expenses, was made.
Senator Mitchell declared the com
mittee adjournd to meet again on thu
deck of the Sierra. ION behalf of TIN
committee" he expressed thanks "t'
all officials and the people generally TO
many kindnesses received. The commit
tee felt a deep sense of the cordial hos
pitlity extended and left with SINGER
regrets"