Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-25
subcommittee to Report on
Conditions in Islands.
EXTENT OF INQUIRY
TESTIMONY TAKEN ON MANY I'M
PoRTANT SUBJECTS.
Senators Mitchell, Burton and Foster
Will Present Their Work of the
Summer When Congress Meets.

Senator Mitchell of Oregon, chairman or
the subcommittee of the Senate committee
on Pacific islands and Porto Rico wnich
committee by resolution of the Senate at
last session was authorized and dlreceed 10
investigate the general conditions OF the
islands of Hawaii, and the administration
of it's affairs, has been in the city some
DAYS, busily engaged IN arranging the testi-
mony and preparing the report of the sub
committee. On request as to the parucu-
lar direction which the inquiries or the
committee took, and as to the probable
character of the report to be made, Senator
Mitchell said that while he had no objec-
lions to giving a general statement as to
the subjects inquired into, he could not
until the subcommittee had submitted Its
report to the full committee and to the
Senate, indicate anything as to the nature
of the conclusions that might be reached
on any one of the subjects investigated.
He states however, in a general way that
the committee, composed of Senator's Bur
ton. of Kansas, Foster of Washington ana
hSmself-the other two members of the
subcommittee Senators Cockrell of Mis-
souri, and Blackburn Of Kentucky, being
unable to visit the islandS-had visited five
Of the seven inhabited islands OF the terri |
tory, viz, Oahu, Mail. Hawaii, Lanai and
Molokai; also the cities of Honolulu, Hilo |
Lahina, Wailuku. Mountain View and
number Of other smaller towns and ports; |
that the committee had held all It's SEES |
sions with open doors~Sr press and public, |
and had taken the testimony of about 1f3
Individual witnesses of AL classes, some
at all of these different places; that the
committee had also heard representatives
OF various representative meroial
bodies, chambers of commerce, boards OF
trade, planters associations, builders and
merchants associations, boards of health, |
bankers. maritime boards. and representa-
tive bodies representing the native Ha-
waiianS; and also on application heard the |
testimony Of quite a number of federal and
territorial officials, including that OF Gov
ernor Dole. Secretary Cooper Commission
er Of Public Lands Boyd, members of the
board Of health, judges Of the supreme
and circuit courts and others; that the
committee visited and carefully investi-
gated the quarantine station near Honolu-
III, and the proposed sites for military posts
and naval station at Honolulu; and also
personally visited Honolulu and Pearl har-
bcrs on the Island of Oahu, and FIilo har-
Dor on the Island of Hawaii that testimony
was taken on the condition and wants Of
each, with view of determining as to the
necessary improvements for these harbors.
Extent of the Investigation.
The Investigations extended" continued
the senator. ito the financial, commercial
and economic conditions generally OF the
islands. to the status, functions and opera
lions OF all federal and territorial officials,
including the executive, administrative and
judicial officers. as well those appointed
By federal as by local authority; the COM
rrittee also examined into the Topographic
cal, geographical and other conditions and
value of the public lands. including those
formerly known as the crown lands; the
territorial land laws, the manner OF dis
position of the public lands-which Is now
under territorial control, the general gov
eminent never having extended any of The
land laws OF the United States to that ter
ritory.
"Our committee carefully inquired into
those conditions more particularly affected
by the organic act, with a view of deter
mining what II any amendments should be
made to that act by Congress; also made
dtigent inquiry into the local laws now In
force in the territory, and Of the operations
o. the government Hereunder. with a view
OF determining as to the republican and
democratic character of each
Public Land Problem.
THE committee also made investigations
with a view of enabling the committee and
congress to reach correct conclusions as TO
whether any legislation is desirable and
necessary in connection with the public
lands of the territory, and as to whether
Their disposition should remain, under the
direction OF congress- in the local govern
rnent, or be taken charge of exclusively by
the general government
Investigations touching several official
oetalceuonS by territorial officials were also
made. some of which occurred before and
number after the arrival of the committee
in the islands.
"A careful and thorough inyestfeet ion ne
the management of the leper settlement ON
tue Island or Molokat was made, and the
condition and mode of life of these unfor-
tunate people, with a view of determining
whether the control and management az
this settlement should remain as now nm
Ger the territorial government, or be trans
1erred to the government of the IrnItad
TlnAa
pttsl service ~
the labor question, the relations of la
Dor 70 capital, wages, the question of re-
strlcted immigration of Chinese Iaborers
OF the cost OF producing sugar on the diner,
ent plantations of the islands; also as to the
aoaptaoility of the islands for raising coffee
So a. the teaslollity OF building up that in
uustry IN the Islands and the condition of
!tEHue ana commerce generally between the
iStaI'us ana the mainland were also taken
into account by the committee
We carefully investigated the fire claims
OF the territory, amounting to Considerable
over 81, 1000. arising out of the fires Incl
gent TO the plague in December. 1899, and
January 1900 and looked carefIIl1v into tba
manner in which these claims had been in
Testigated by the territorial officials, as
also into the conditions that led to the de-
s sor 1 OF property at that time the rea-
sons Tor and the manner of such destruc-
uon, all bearing upon the question as 70
whether the United States should or should
not assume the payment of these claims.
The Irrigation Question.
"A considerable amount of testimony was
taken bearing upon the question of the pro-
posed irrigation ditch IN the Kohala district
or the Island Of Hawaii and the conflicting
claims OF the Hawaiian Ditch Company and
OF another company represented by the
Messrs- Gehrs and their associates. This
Testimony bore. first, upon the question
from an Industrial and economic Standpoint
as to the advisability and feasibility OF this
enterprise. and. secondly, as to the respect
we rights OF the two claimants for a han
chiee.
The Investigations Of the committee ex
tended further as to the necessity for public
buildings Tor custom houses, court houses
end post offices In Honolulu and HIlo also
es 20 the necessity for the recolnage into
United States coins, In the United States
mint. Of some 100000 OF Hawaiian silver
coins. ~
Especial attention was also given to the
question as to the advisablity OF SO amend
ING the organic act as TO require the organ
fatton of county. city and town govern
nents. Much testimony was taken bearing
upon this question.
Claim Of the Late Queen.
THE late unea, mr.