The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-03
HAWAlrS CONCERNS
AT WASHINGTON
Delegate Wilcox Will Work Against
Plans for the irrigation of
Maui's Arid Lands.

interesting little story IN tne prellfnl-
naries before the House of Representa-
tives with the Chinese exclusion bills.
To the CONSERVATION Of the Treasury
Department and of the friends of ex-
cluson. Speaker Henderson referred
al, these measures, of which there was
multitude, to the committee on Tor
eign affairs. AS everybody had eX-
pected that they would be referred to
the committee on immigration and la
Dor, the chairmen and members OF
which are cordially in favor of putting
the bars up very high and very c.ose
together against the yellow peril. On
the contrary, Chairman Hit, of the
foreign relations committee, Is on rec
ord during past years as regarding
such exclusion as brutal and unreason-
able, as contrary to the favored nation
clause and the Burlingame treaty.
But, since the treaty of 1894 was
framed with China, Chairman Hit has
somewhat changed his view, and now
sees his way clear to favor strong
exclusion act. This treaty was framed
while the late Secretary Gresham
headed Iir. Cleveiand's cabinet, and
Mr.. Gresham and Mr.. Hit We're close
friends. In fact, Mr.. Hit had some
thing to do with the framing of the
treaty, which comprised some very
clever language. Among its diplomatic
phrases is one declaring that China
/ does not want her people to emigrate
to the United States of America. Go
/ ing on this solemn declaration. Char
man Hit feels that he is warranted
/ ir sanctioning the new exclusion law.
The very few who do not want Be-
we're restriction of Chinese immigration
into this country argue tnat to be
eminent,y fair, this government has no
right to frame an exclusion act for
period longer than the duration of the
treaty now in force. After few years
more, somewhere about l9O5 ethel
party may terminate the treaty OF 1894
by giving six months notice. Then
SO the argument goes, China could
claim that the exclusion act If in force.
as it undoubtedly will be. was in vio-
llatiun of the most favored nation clause
and of the Burlingame treaty. But
here is where the diplomatists declare
their fine work will be evident. SHOULD
China make that plea the American
government could reply, "But you as
serted your desire that Cinnamon
should not emtgrate to the United
States" If Chinese officials should an
swer that the celestial government had
changed its mind, Americans could re-
tort that the American government is
not In the habit of changing front.
and has rot in this particular instance.
WILCOX FIGHTS IRRIGATION.
Delegate Wilcox has begun work
against the plans of irrigation for cer-
tain Of the arid lands in Hawaii on the
Island of Maui. and December II pre-
scnted the following petition in the
House:
TO Congress-Tha undersigned resi-
dents of the Island OF Maui. Territory
of Hawaii, most respectfully represent
and petition to your honorable body as
) follows:
That your petitioners are settlers on
and owners of certain lots of land sit
uated at Nahiku, Island of Maui, Ter
ritory of Hawaii. known as the Nahku
coffee alnds on said Island of Maui, and
as shown by public land map No. "a
of the republic of Hawaii; that your
petitioners are owners and occupiers of
ali of the POS acres of the lands afore-
said, and that your petitioners have
expended great energy and industry.
many privations and hardships In es-
taDlishnS for themselves homes on
said tract. Your petitioners further rep
resent that their said lands would be
; valueless without a sufficient supply
of water for agricultural purposes;
| that the Nahiku Sugar Company. a
corporation for agricultural and other
Industrial pursuits, Is the owner 1T
certain lots In the said tract borderir Z
. on the permanent streams thereof
And your petitioners are so informe /
and believe that the said Nahiku Sugar
Company intends to apply at the com
ing session of Congress for frinch Sc
or license to divert and carcy away
, the public waters of this trac', ana ia
dispose or sell the same to tn" Hawaii
an Commercial and Sugar Company, -
he used forty or fifty years away f"ori
be used forty or fifty miles away from
, Nahiku.
| nd a
, sent that the waters of the said Nahi-
ku tract should not be granted mol
otherwise disposed of by the United
States government nor by the govern
mont fthe Territory of Hawaii. Lu,
should be retained for the common
benefit Of all Of the land owners in sal
tract.
Wherefore your petitioners humbl,
pray that no franchise for the diver
sion of the said waters be granted, bu
that all the said waters be confined Il
the use and enjoyment of all the Ian.
owners In the said Nahiku coffee lanc
tract, and your petitioners VIII evel
pray.
Dated at Nahiku. Island Of Maui, T
H.. November 81 1901.
There are something like fifty sign
! ers of this petition, some of whom
make their mark only. The leaders OF
the list are Antoine Mendonco, Franl
Robello. Joseph Cabral, John de Chiui
i ro, \. l.. Lennon, Jose Maviner d,
y Costa and Roland Il. Wilder. This pc
: tition. which is said to be only u sam
pie Of others on the way. was referre,
t. the committee on Territories, o
which Mr., Knox. Of Mass. is chairman
: 1t is worth remembering that Repre-
sentative Robinson, n Democrat, o
$ Fort Wayne, Ind. took lively inter
t est In this petition and became great!
impressed with its Importance. H.
has been very intimate with Mr. Wilco'
of late, and has given signs OF inten
tion to fight some of the battles o
Hawaii on the side of Mr. Wilcox th!
winter. Mr.. Robinson has some powe
In debate, possesses a strong voice
. and Is capable OF making trouble whei
. he starts out.
Delegate Wilcox's committee assign
v ments in this Congress are to the com
: mittec on private land claims. and I,
h.. ,aft 80.