The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-01-14

and see what he can learn about Ha-
waiian interests there. Among other
matters he hopes to have a talk with
the Commissioner Of the Land Office,
Mr. BinEer Hermann. to whom will he
referred MI. WilcoXs bill regarding
the classification of public lands in the
islands. The Commissioner has not had
time yet to consider the measure: N
fact, it has not been officially referred
to him, but he will probably recon-
mend some amendments.
Mr.. Wilcox has a quota of 1880
packages of seeds for distribution this
year. a portion of which he has given
to Representative Hay of Virginia and
! others. These are the seeds that are
not adapted to the soil and climate of
Hawaii. Others, such as watermelons
and muskmelons, he has ordered sent
to the Chinese farmers among his con-
stituents, who found last years con-
signment very satisfactory. Some wine
grapes. in his quota from the Agricul-
tural Department, have been forward
ed to planters and Mr.. Wray Taylor,
in charge of the Agricultural Depart
ment work, also receives large quota.
The flower seeds, some 1000 packages,
Mr. Wilcox has sent to his wife. He
! expects her to distribute them among
the fair sex of the island, desiring to
beautify their gardens with new varie-
ties. He says he is confident that the
appropriation for the experiment sta
ton. under Mr.. Jared Smith, will reach
$4,000 this year, instead of $4,000, as
1t was last year.
The papers in the court martial of
Lieut.. Howells, whose wife was Hon
olulu girl, are still on the desk of Sec
rotary of War Root A few days ago
Senator Allison of Iowa called at the
department in behalf of the young
man, but the Secretary at this writing
has taken no action. Strong influence
is being brought to bear in his favor.
SITE AT PEARL HARBOR.
The Geographic news Of the success
of the government in securing site
for a naval station at Pearl Harbor,
printed here few days ago. was re-
| ceived with much satisfaction in the
Navy Department. Admiral Bradford.
| the chief of the Bureau of Equipment
and Repair, who has the matter in
charge, has received nothing yet Off
cially from Honolulu about the con-
demnation proceedings. Regarding the
purchase he spoke as follows:
What the government desired was a
site on the east side of the entrance and
, on the south side of Pearl Harbor, oil
what is known as the Bishop estate The
site originally fixed upon covered an area
of 500 acres. The estate fixed the value
at $500 an acre, which the United States
considered eXorbitant. The condemna-
! ton proceedings Were then Instituted, I'M
der the laws of the Hawaiian Islands
providing for the condemnation of lands
for government purposes.
If the reports OF the finding of the
jury IN the condemnation proceedings be
'"ue, but of this | have no official knowl-
edge as yet, the United States will pur-
chase from the Bishop estate "A tract of
600 acres, which, at SO an acre. the price
reported fixed by the jury. would make
purchase price but $4,000. We have an
appropriation of $l50,000, and this would
leave residue of Sl0j,OOO to be expended
for damages and all other expenses. The
damages that would of necessity have to
be paid, would be those In cases where a
company had leased "a part of the
ground, and had 1t ready for sugar cane
cultivation. Rcparation would be de-
manded for such improvements.
Again, the United States government
would have to meet the claims of certain
people to whom the government of lIa-
wall has sold certain fishing rights, and
these would in all probability have TO be
adjusted. in order TO free the land in
cluded in the prospective naval station
from all membranes"
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
There is little new in the Cuban sit
uation, as affecting Hawaiian inter-
ests The proposition to grant a boun-
ty on Cuban sugar, instead of reducing
the tariff, which was outlined in the
last Washington letter to the Adver;is-
er, is being pressed and reports from
the White House are that it meets
with some favor from President Ropse-
welt. 1t was put forward by Mr.. Hen
ry 7. OXnard, representing the beet SUI
gar interests here, as already stated.
and will be strongly urged before in
iuential Senators and members of the
House, when Congress reconVenes one
week from today. Mr.. Haywood VIII
join in urging the plan, just as soon as
the statesmen came back here and tne
indifference To legislative TOPICS char
aeteristic of the holiday season, has
disappeared.
1T is to our interest to ally our
selves with the beet sugar growers and
the cane sugar growers in this regard"
said Mr.. Haywood today. standing
alone the Hawaiian planters would be
weak before Congress, but in joining
with others. whose interests are almost
Identical, we can help them and they
can help us. The proposition for
bounty will, If carried into effect. place
the burden of helping Cuba on the en-
tire American people, where it should
be. lower tariff rate on Cuban sugar
would in effect be only an entering
wedge for free trade, and at the SAME
time would throw the burden largely
upon the sugar planters of Hawaii, I
very apparently great wrong. BY i'm |
posing bounty in favor of Cuban su-
gar We help the Cubans without taking
upon ourselves any of the evils that
lower tariff and ultimate free trade
would assure us.
THE CANAL.
There is little new to be said about |