Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-08
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
To Be Investigated by Senate
Commission.
THE CROWN LANDS CASE
A HUNTING TRIP WITH POSSIBLE
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES
Serious Dilemma Faces the Govern
ment in the Exhaustion of Cir
cult Court Funds.


Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
HONOLULU, T. H. August 20. 1902.
The last steamer from San Francisco
brought to Honolulu Senator Burton Of
Kansas, the forerunner OF a Senate COM
mission which is to spend about a month
here. and ex-senator Thurston OF Nebras-
ka. who comes to Hawaii in connection
with the kohala irrigation ditch bill, which
was good deal discussed in committee
during the last session OF Congress. Sena-
tor Thurston represents the opposition 10
the measure. He is accompanied by Mrs
Thurston and his secretary Carroll Pur-
man.
Senator Burton came ahead of the rest Of
the commission for the purpose Of enioving
a vacation, and arrangements had been
made for a hunting trip. on which he was
the guest of MIR. Sam Parker. The party
left on a steamer chartered by Parker for
the Island of Hawaii. where they are now
enjoying the hunt Burton and Thurston
also. as well their wives speak with
great enthusiasm OF the attractions of the
territory, and the Nebraska senator has ac-
cepted an invitation to address a campaign
meeting under the auspices of the Young
Mems Republican Club Of Honolulu next
saturday evening.
We have come here to look into the
needs and requirements of the territory
commission OF which he is a member Con
gress is well disposed toward Hawaii but
II was felt to be necessary that matters be
investigated on the ground. There is a wide
neld 10 be covered, social and economical
We shall not have anything to do with pol
tiles" -
The Senate Commissions Inquiry.
The other members of the commission
are TO arrive here on September . II is
understood that one of the principal OBJ
Jects of the trip is to investigate the claims
OF the ex-queen to the crown lands which
the Dole government took from her after
the revolution of 1888. The ex-queen has
ever since been trying to recover them. or
an equivalent in money, but first the re-
public of Hawaii and then the territorial
government stood firm on the prouositiun
that she is not entitled to anything. IL s.
largely question OF law, the queen claim
ing the lands her own, while, on the
other side. 1t is held that the crown lands
were the property of the monarch as a
monarch. and not Of the individual who
happened to occupy the throne. The mon
archy having ceased to exist, it was claimed
that the lands should be public lands
Senator Burton's trip to the Island Of
Hawaii is supposed to be for plea sure alone
and the commission is supposed to be alto
gether out of politics. but 1t is impossible
to disassociate man Altogether from the
company he keeps, and the comment Is
home-rule flavor about the Burton hunting
party. The men who were at the wharf to
b!d the party godspeed included Edgar
Caypless, Senator Kalauokalani, Represen-
tatives Prendergast and Mossman and 9TH
ers, who are rahid home rulers, while Par
ker himself. though a republican. is not a
supporter Of the Dole government The
first impressions of Hawaii received Toy
Senator Burton. at least. will be from the
home-rule side. He is expected back in
Honolulu in time to meet the other mem
bers of the commission.
An Awkward Situation.
When the commissioners begin their In
Iestigations they will find a situation
worthy Of attention in the first circuit
courts. Months ago II was stated that
Judges Humphreys and Gear were trying to
force an extra session Of the legislature
the one great desire of all home ru!ers-by
exhausting the appropriation for the cir
cult courts current expenses. Now tho
funds have given out, and Hawaii appears
to be without courts Of Justice. as far as
criminal matters are concerned.
When the fund gave out. Judge Humph-
reys. in a conference with Governor Dole
In which all the judges OF the first circuit
took part, proposed a way out Of the diff
Guilty, declaring that the auditor had been
drawing on the wrong fund for bailiffs'
salaries. He made a demand on the au-
to the supreme court when the auditor re-
fused it. The supreme court ruled against
his contentious. and this leaves the courts
without a cent for their expenses and a
session OF the legislature six months away
The dilemma is a most serious one. and
Governor Dole has again been appealed to.
Judge Gear stated on the bench yesterday
that the governor, who has jurisdiction over
the only body able to provide funds. was
the one to assume responsibility. This is Il
hint that the executive. by calling the leg
isiature in special session. can relieve the
situation. If the territory had Legislature
of an ordinary kind this would have been
done long ago to meet other emergencies
but Dole has absolutely refused to call a
session. and it Is thought that he will con-
tnue to stand firm against IL.
The republican convention for the nomi-
nation Of a candidate for delegate to Con-
gress will be held in Honolulu next Monday
evening. There seems to be much likelihood
that Mr.. A. G. NJ. Robertson. a representa-
tive in the last house. will be a candidate.
He is A young lawyer born in Hawaii,
graduate of Yale. The principal objections
urged against him that only a Ha-
waiian can be elected, and that Robertson
will prove unpopular with many Hawaiians
on account of his having been the prosecut-
ing attorney for the new government
against the rOyaists Involved In the abOr-
tive revolution of 95.