The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-10-14

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or be transferred to the Government Of |
the United States
We also made careful investigation |
of the labor question, the relations Of Ia |
Dor to capital, wages, etc; also of the |
question of restricted immigration of Chi |
nese laborers, of the cost Of producing |
sugar on the different plantations in the |
different islands,; also to the adapt !
ability OF the islands for raising coffee, |
and the feasibility of building up that in
dustry on the islands; the condition of
trade and commerce generally between the |
islands and the mainland were taken into
account by the committee.
We also made a careful investigation of
the fire claims of the territory, amount
ing TO considerably over $100o,Oo0 arising
out of the fire incident to the plague in
December, 1883, and January, 1900; looked
carefully into the manner in which these
claims lad been investigated by the ter
ritorial officials. also into the conditions
that led to the destruction of property at
that time the reasons for and the manner
of such destruction-all bearing upon the
question as TO whether the United States
should or should not assume the payment
OF these claims.
We also took a considerable amount of
testimony bearing upon the question OF
pTOpDSeu lIflSdtlOH OIlcIi the HAO-
hala district Island of Hawaii, and of the
conflicting claims of the Hawaiian Ditch
Company and another company repre-
scented by the Messrs Gehr and their as
sociates. This testimony bore, first, upon
the question from an industrial and eco
nomic standpoint as to the feasibility and
ACCESSIBILITY of this enterprise. and sec
ondly, as to the respective rights of the
two claimants for franchise.
CltIr inv extended further
to the necessity of public buildings for
cEstom-houses, courthouses and postof-
fees in Honolulu and in Hilo. Also into
the necessity for the recoinage in the
United States mint of some 10000 of
Hawaiian silver coins. Special attention
was also given to the question as to the
advisability of so amending the Organic
ty and municipal organizations, and much
testimony was taken bearing upon this
question.
| The late Queen Liliuokalani (Mrs. Doni-
nis) having presented to our committee
claim for losses alleged to have been sus-
tanned by her by reason of the loss of the
crown lands when she was deposed we
made a full investigation of the condi-
ton, character and value of these crown
/ lands at the time of her deposition
Queen, and of the revenue arising there
from annually.
Our whole time during our stay in the
! islands, with the exception of very few
hours, was closely devoted to the inves-
| LEGATIONS in which we Were engaged. We
| have mass of testimony bearing upon
/ the several subjects of inquiry.
! As yet the committee has had no oppor
tunity whatever to discuss any of the sub
/! jects into which we have been inquiring.
much less to some to any conclusion in
regard to any of these subjects, and will
not take the same up for consideration
until we reach Washington, which we
hope to do early in November. Besides it
would be quite improper, even had we
reached any conclusions in regard to any
of the subjects of our inquiry to make
the same public before submitting the
same to the full committee and the Sen
ate.
1t may, however, not be improper to re-
fer TO the present business and industrial
conditions. Contrary to the conditions OF
great commercial and business prosperity
now prevailing on the mainland through
out the United States, we regret being
compelled to say we found the islands in,
a state of very great commercial and in
dustrial depression, caused, as it is. gener-
ally claimed, by the low price of sugar
. and the scarcity and high price of labor.
I embrace this opportunity to state on
behalf of my associates and attaches OF
the committee and their ladies' accom-
panying them and myself, that our recep-
ton on our arrival and treatment while
in the islands by both people and press
were of the most cordial character Not
word of criticism came from the press as
to the manner in which we conducted our
! examinations, which We're open to all, nor
from any other source so far as we know.
! On our arrival at Honolulu our sergeant
at arms. Senator Fosters secretary,
Thomas Summons was taken i'll with ty-
1ani6 aT1d xxr.- led 80 70
the hospital. He was gradually improv-
ing on our departure, but will be unable
to leave Honolulu for a couple of weeks.
Aside from this and a slight attack of
rheumatism which annoyed Senator Fos-
ter somewhat on the home-bound trip, our
party was blessed with good health I
also gratified to be able to state that
throughout our stay in the islands a spirit
of harmony in the committee has charac-
terized all our proceedings. Although we
enjoyed the beautiful islands and the pro-
verbal generous hospitality of their peo-
pie. irrespective of race or condition in
life, we are all happy to be once more On
the mainland soil.
/ am authorized by my colleagues, Sen
ator Burton and Foster, to say that they
fully indorse all the statements 1 have
just made in this interview
Senator Mitchell and Senator Foster,
who are at present guests of the Palace
Hotel, expect to leave for their homes
within a day or two. Senator Burton.
who took apartments at the Occidental
when he came ashore from the Sierra
yesterday afternoon. expects to leave
on the 10 O'clock overland train this
morning for Kansas, where ne viii open
the campaign later in the week. Kan
sas viii have a state election next
month. and Senator Burton declared
last evening that after the election his
state viii be restored to the position it
occupied from 1851 to 1891, during which
period not democratic Congressman
was elected, and only one Democratic
Governor. He predicts that the entire
: congressional delegation from Kansas
/, viii be Republican after the 4th of
! March next The legislature TO be
elected next Ronth, he says. will be
Republican and viii elect q Republican
1 Senator to succeed Senator Harris.