The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-09-23

on the return trip from the volcano
Saturday the Commission gave "A hear
ing in the office Of the American Set
tiers Association, where fifty Olaa men
had gathered for the purpose of giving
weight To the presentation Of their
claims by Or. y. Russell and r. J.
Ryan. The Senators gathered first at
Or. Russ"il's house and then adjourned
10 the place Of hearing, the room be-
ing hlled with the many members of
the squattcrs' association and the Wis
tors many Of whom came up from Hi
10. The word had gone about that
Ryan had asked Tor two days to pre-
gent his case ana he had evidently
"coalcd for a long cruise" as he had
hir desk and the shelves about filled
with papers, copies of the Congression-
al Record, and bills both of Congress
and the last Legislature.
when everything was ready DR.. y.
Russell Mas sworn. He said he had
put his items and argument into a me-
mortal, and submitted it. He said he
had nothing further to say, and for
lack Of time the memorial was not read.
In IT DR.. Russell compares the condi-
tons ia Hawaii 20 those in the Phil
ippines, the only difference being that
sugar planters here rule while in the
Orient il is the fTiars He says the in
dustries of the Islands are under the
control Of a score Of men who in va
rious combinations own sugar estates
and all other branches Of business He
calls attention 10 many reforms, prin-
cipally those embodied in his bills in
the last legislature and as exhibits put
in copies of them all, including the
county law.
n. J. Ryan, president of the AmerI-
can Settlers Association, presented his
memorial, saying it was brief exposi-
ton of his views. This paper, covering
some dozen sheets OF foolscap, goes
over the land system, reciting the ac-
ton of the squatters and charging all
kinds Of inequalities of practice. ia
voritism and fraud against the govern
ment. 1t Is accompanied by thirty
four exhibits covering land laws, re-
ports. opinions and newspaper COM
ment. He ran through these with "A
string 81 comment, among other things
saying that coolie labor was "A detri-
ment to the Territory, that there were
by the last recorded statement 81 1851
Oricntals In the Territory not on plan
tations, and that white men could per-
form all the labor on an estate that Is
needed. He insisted that the only flu
lure Of the Territory lays through the
giving Of the lands into control Of the
national government. He said spccih-
cally that he did not think a new set
of officials We're needed, simply new
law and system. He advocated the
Mason bill now before the Senate Com
mittee.
o. y. Shipman submitted a memorial
complaining against the land system
and also averring that the sugar COM
pany made more out Of the crop than
the planter and that the latter should
get tWO-thirds of the returns.
Mr.. Ryan then called a number Of
the members Of the squatters' assOcia-
ton. all Of whom told Of their taking
up land and then being ordered off f..
The members Of the Commission asked
Ryan to show them under what law
he and his associates took the land,
but that was beyond him. lie admit
ted there was no law.
DIR. Russell told the Commission that
in addition to the statements made
various complaints Among other
things said the lands were sold at too
nigh a price; that per cent was too
high interest; that there We're no
schools; that there were no roads.
Among other things he said one-half
had surrendered their homesteads or
soon would be compelled so to do.
q. W. Patty urged the Committee TO
give an experiment station at Olaa,
SO that the farmers might find out just
what was the best to raise. He admit
ted that he had given up potatoes and
corn and was planting cane,
Ryan wanted to put on other wit !
nesses or TO be commissioned to exam !,
inc them and take statements, but
Senator Mitchell would not have 1t,
saying there was nothing new prom
Used only an accumulation Of testi-
mOny,