Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-09-22

Committee on Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico.
Memorial ON Revision of Hawaiian
Land Act.
The views hereinafter expressed have
already. in part, been presented at diff
ferent times. and to other officials and
branches of the Federal Government,
also to the Hon. II. NJ. Sewall, late
United States Minister and Commits
sioner during the interregnum ante
dating the actual operation of the Or
ganic Act. The conditions that then
existed, exist today, only more empha-
sized.
Closer Investigation.
have, then, the honor to suggest
that closer investigation OF the meth
DDS used in the administration OF Ha-
wall Territorial land matters will dis
close the existence Of state of affairs
which 1t Is difficult to conceive from an
American standpoint, and one which, II
not speedily checked either by local
Legislation, or an entire radical change
through Congressional legislation
transferring their control and dispo-
sition to the Federal branch, may leave
but the empty husk to be legislated
for.
Not least among the many causes for
the uneasiness and dissatisfaction
existing in the public mind OF this
Territory at the present day, Is the
general disregard or notification by
the Territorial land officials of the
provisions and requirements of the So
called Public Land Act OF 1854 ere
alton OF the present Governor. As
matter of fact, 1t has been most diff.
cult to obtain any information. The
self-styled Executive Council occa-
sionally permits few grains of lnfor-
nation OF its doings to sift through be-
tween the chinks OF its closed doors;
otherwise no publicity Is given to its
proceedings, which adds another NAL
odorous element to an un-American
phase OF public administration.
Land Secrecy.
In respect to land matters. q certain
secrecy has been observed both by the
Land Department and the Territorial
Executive, with the result that thou
sands of acres OF the most valuable
agricultural public lands OF this Ter
ritory have been allotted or alienated
since the adjournment of the late
Legislature in July, 1901-in some in
stances to irresponsible applicants,
while in others a proper exercise OF
judgment looking toward q protection
OF the public rights and the public well
fare should have resulted in throwing
the applications into the waste basket.
The inevitable result OF these high
handed proceedings has been one fac
tor in the creation of a sentiment OF
deep Indignation against an Executive
either too weak to resist or too willing
to acquiesce in the betrayal OF a pub
lie trust. In no instance has knowl-
edge Of the locality, OF the individuals
seeking lands In the same, been OF the
slightest avail in deferring or averting
these results. for, as stated, the public
have invariably been denied informa-
ton until too late for remedial action
or protest and then only the bare facts
Furthermore, requests for access Ia
lpublic records for information on pass.
led land transactions have been denied
in the face of circumstances that such
refusals would be appealed from to the
Federal authorities.
Settlement Associations Act.
Referring to the Dole Land Act Of
1895. the provisions applying TO tn,
acquisition of public lands under the
form OF Settlement Association appear
to have found the most favor with tn,
dispensing officials, and the records o.
the Land Office will show that larg,
blocks OF land have been jerrymander
ed under this anomalous feature
THESE combinations or associations
may or may not have been effected fo
the purpose OF evading the require
ments, in the former event a matte
not at all difficult when the mutualit!
Of interests or the force OF pull, or in
fiuence, or even the cool insolence o
disregard to the law, permits sucl
violation to be carried on with i'm
punity.
Records Will show.
In this connection reference to tn
records will indicate: "a that tn
Executive Council has ratified the set
ting apart OF valuable agriculture
tracts in large amounts, under the pro
visions for Settlement Associations
(2) that in many instances the allot
ments were made to parties VINO shoul
have been considered ineligible; %
that in certain instances where the ap
lplications we're bona fide they were de