Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-10-14
Mitchell Gives Review
OF WORK
Done By the Commission

Mainland were taken into account by
the committee.
We also made a careful investigation
Of the fire claims Of the Territory,
amounting to considerably over 81 900
900. arising out of the fires incident to
the plague in December. 1929. and Jan.
uary, 1900; looked carefully into the
manner in which these claims had been
investigated by the Territorial officials
as 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 the proposed irrigation ditch in the
kohala district, Island OF Hawaii, and
Of the conflicting claims Of the Hawa-
iian Ditch Company and another COM
pany represented by the Messrs. Gehg
and their associates. This testimony
bore, frstt, upon the question from an
industrial and economic standpoint as
to the feasibility and advisability of
this enterprise, and secondly, as 10 the
for franchise.
Our Investigations extended further
as to the necessity OF public buildings
for custom houses. Courthouses and
postoffices in Honolulu and in Hilo.
Also into the necessity for the recoin-
age in the United States mint of some
5000. 900 OF Hawaiian silver coins. Spe.
cial attention was also given to the
question as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF SO
Amending the Organic Act as to require
the organization Of county and munich
pal organizations, and much testimony
was taken bearing upon this question.
The late Queen Liliuokalani (Mrs.
Dominis) having presented to our
committee a claim for losses alleged u
have been sustained by her by reason
OF the loss Of the crown lands when
she was deposed, we made full in
vestigation OF the condition, character
and value OF these crown lands at the
time Of her deposition as Queen. and
OF the revenue arising therefrom an.
nually.
Our whole time during our stay In
the Islands, with the exception OF a
very few hours, was closely devoted
to the Investigations in which we were
engaged. We have a mass of testimony
bearing upon the several subjects OF
inquiry.
As yet the committee has had no op-
portunity whatever to discuss any OF
the subjects into which We have been
inquiring, much less to come 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 1t would
be quite improper, even had we reach
ed 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
Senate.
1t may, however not be improper to
dustrial conditis1s. Contrary TO the
conditions Of great commercial and
business prosperity now prevailing on
the Mainland throughout the United
States, we regret being compelled to
say we found the Islands in a state OF
very great commercial and industrial
depression, caused, as II is generally
claimed, ~ the low price OF sugar and
the scarcity and high price OF labor.
embrace this opportunity to state !
on behalf of my associates and attaches |
OF the committee and their ladies ac-
them and myself, that our
reception 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 eXamina-
tons, which were open to all nor
from any other source so far as We
know.
On our arrival at Honolulu, our SER
Senator Fosters secre-
tary, Thomas Sammons, was taken i'll
with typhoid fever, and was compelled
TO go to the hospital. He was gradu-
ally improving on our departure, but
Will be unable to leave Honolulu for
couple OF weeks Aside from this and
slight attack OF rheumatism which an
loyed Senator Foster somewhat on the
lome-bound trip, our party was bless
ID with good health, am also graft
led TO be able to state that throughout
'ur stay in the Islands spirit OF har-
nony in the comittee has characterized
III our proceedings. Although we en- {
Dyed the beautiful Islands and the ,
roverbial generous hospitality of their {
'eople, irrespective OF race or condi- |
ion in life, we are all happy TO be once S
more on the mainland soil. q
| am authorized by my colleagues,