Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-09-24
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
Rice PI, nters and Lawyers
BEFORE The COMMISSION
CONTINUED from Pag. 81

ed at a special meeting of the Honolulu |
Chamber of Commerce held on Sept
%, 1902.
JAS. GORDON SPENCER.
Secretary.
To
HON. JOHN H. MITCHELL.
Chairman.
HON. J. A. BURTON,
HON. A. G. FOSTER.
Mr.. Cooke ouizzed.
Burton-You say that any change in
land laws of this Territory would be
subversive of its interests?
Cooke-Yes, sir.
Burton-You think the Territorial
Government should control and man.
age the public lands?
Cookie do.
Burton-Do you believe that the
Territorial Government should keep
the lands, or dispose of them to cor
porations and individuals?
Cookie think they should dispose
OF them partly. That Is, lands suitable
for farming should be disposed Of. So
far as the mountain lands are con.
cerned, they should be retained by the
Government and leased to corpora
lions for their water rights.
Burton-Would not corporations be
able to make as good a disposition Of
the mountain water as politicians?
Cooke-Still believed that 1t would
be better for the Government to con
troll such lands under the existing
laws.
One good reason for keeping the con
troll in the Territorial Government
rather than at Washington was the
distance from the Federal Govern
ment.
Burton-Asked II witness did not
know that Hawaii was not farther re
moved from Washington City today
than Washington State and Oregon
were forty years ago.
Cooke-Did not know. We are faI
enough. 1t takes long time to &c
any business trough at Washington
Burton-From my observation herr
land matters are put through in Wash
ington much quicker than your liant
matters are here.
Cooke--Thought II was different.
Burton-Have you any other reasol
for believing that the Territorial Gov
ernment should keep the public lands
Cooke-They are a source Of reve
nue., for one thing.
Burton-Would there be more revs
nue. from rents than from taxes?
Cooke-Could not say, only kneN
the revenues from rents were consit
cradle.
Burton-Then you are talking fror
mere guess? Do you think Sle Hone
lulu water works are managed bette
by politicians than they would be b
q private corporation?
Cooke-They are managed yer
well. Pressed for direct answer
witness created laugh by saying, :"
they are good politicians"
After a little more sparring to tn
same effect, the witness was excuse,
John A. Cummins being sworn pr
scented a memorial. but was not que
toned.
The Bar Association.
Dan II. Case, secretary of the II
waiian Bar Association, was called
!. present a memorial of that body G
the question of a third Judge in Il
First Judicial Circuit. To Senat'
Mitchell he said he was familiar wit
the business done in this circuit. Is
llieved that three Judges were nece
sary; did so from condition Of the c'
endar; amount of business AREA
was enough to keep the courts bui
for months II not years. There Was
Circuit Court ruling that only oil
!, Judge could hold court at time !
thought three Judges would be nect
: sary even II more than one Judge he
court the same time.
! Senator Burton asked him abo
D. Shawnee county, Kansas, as the pla
he came from. Witness said the
were two trial Judges there, al
when Mr.. Burton told him he W
mistaken, answered by giving {
, names of Judges Joh sson and Hay'
\ of two separate courts but with &C
" current Jurisdiction. The Kansas Sc
D ator rejoined that one Judge did t
n entire business now. Mr.. Case
marked, He tried to do it,"
: Mr.. Burton asked II, supposing I
J. Shawnee Judge failed to do the wo
demanded, there would not be a NJ
Judge.
Mr.. Case had heard the Judge s
that there was too much work. C'
ditions might have changed since
" eft there in 1896. He had heard
- great deal of complaint about
want of ability of the Judges there
dispose of the business.
Mr.. Burton asked If Shawnee COZ
=, ty had not enough influence to obti
!, what II wanted in courts. Mr. Ca
=. said, Shawnee generally is heard
which Mr.. Burton remarked, Il thi