The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-04-29
Executive Chamber.
Honolulu, March 18th,

territory OF HAWAI-,
Honolulu, March 18th, 1902.
The Honorable, The Secretary Of the
Interior. Washington. ID. c.:
Sir:-From the newspapers and other
sources of information, I should judge
that Mr.. Samuel Parkers Kohala ditch
bin, II. r. 1907, is being pushed in the
House of Representatives with consid-
cradle activity. l am informed that
Mr.. Knox, chairman of the Committee
on Territories, is unfavorable to spe-
cial legislation of the character pro-
posed by the bill. and has expressed
himself as favorable to the passage of
bill granting the Territory the neces-
say authority for dealing with such
matters
was glad TO learn of Mr.. Knox's
views in this matter as Mr.. Parker
bill is not only grant of valuable
privileges without reserving anything
in the way of rents or other considera-
ton to the Territorial government, but
il would be mischievous in the extreme
to the public interests, in that 1t con-
tains no provisions for protecting
sources OF the water supply, or forests,
and no requirements as to water rates
for the sale of water to agriculturists,
and no protection for the small farmer
in distinction from the large sugar
planter in the way of opportunities of
having water. Its powers of eminent
domain over private lands are sweep
ing without checks or limitations of any
kind.
The menace to both water sources
and forests OF such a sweeping privi-
lege will be understood when II Is
known that our best and most lasting
sources of water exist generally in ele-
waited places where, from the grade of
the land, the excessive humidity and
the impeIetrabe and junglelike char
scter of the growth. and especially the
underground, there is not only an i'm
ieense precipitation of moisture, but
from the dense growth and Jswampy
character OF the ground thereby Undue
- q large quantity Of water Is held
and only slowly given out. so that the
streams from such sources suffer less
il dry weather than others. My infor-
raation Is that this is the character OF
the summit of the Kohala Mountains
IL will be easily seen that bitches OF
tunnels cut into such a locality would
tend to drain away the water rapidly
so that the reservoir for furnishing a
supply during drouths would be soor
destroyed, and the soil becoming dry
from such drainage, would cease tC
support the dense growth so important
10 such water source. which would
gradually disappear. to the irreparable
damage to the public interests.
There are other objections to the bill
in question. 1t gives no right to take
government water but to construct and
maintain bitches. This vagueness
would result in litigation, for the Ter
ftory would oppose the taking of gov
eminent water unless Congress should
clearly grant the same. The bill appar-
entity confers perpetual privilege
which, of course. is inconsistent with
The law as well as public policy.
Moreover, the description of the coun,
Try through which the bitches are Il
run is vague, confusing and absolutely
inadequate for such a purpose.
trust the bill may be defeated, as il
is utterly without merit and would onl,
result, If passed. in prejudice to the
public. and would be in the way OF in.
teiligent handling of the situation II
the future.
Very respectfully.
SANFORD b. DOLE
The effect Of this objection. together
with other opposition. have been 4
make 1t more than doubtful whether
the Parker bill win ever get out OF tn,
Senate committee.
Immediately upon the arrival Of Gov
ernor Dole he was met by Mr.. ]. T