Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-10-14

Senators John II. Mitchell OF oregon,
Addison G. Foster OF Washington. and
Joseph r. Burton of Kansas. who went
to the Hawaiian Islands several weeks
ago. in pursuance of Senate resolu-
ton, to investigate various questions
affecting political. economical and gov
ernmental matters on the Islands, ar
rived yesterday in the steamer Sierra
and will scatter to their respective
homes from here within few days.
The visit of the three United States
Senators was strictly business trip,
rather than a vacation junket. to Judge
from their accounts OF the work they
accomplished, and they will have
voluminous report to submit to the
Senate Committee on Pacific Islands
and Porto Rico, OF which they consti.
tute subcommittee, when they return
to Washington.
The three Senators agreed to issue a
formal statement concerning their
work on the Islands in lieu OF sub
hitting to interviews. and the follow
ing statement was accordingly issued
last evening by Senator Mitchell. with
the approval Of his two colleagues:
Our committee, composed OF Senator
Burton OF Kansas, Senator Foster OF
Washington and myself as chairman.
being a Subcommittee OF the Commit
tee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico
of the United States Senate. spent
twenty-five working days on the Hawa-
iian Islands, twenty Of which Onclud-
ing also many night sessions) were &C.
cupied in taking testimony bearing
upon the several subjects committed
to us for investigation.
We visited four OF the principal ISL
ands of the Territory. Oahu. Hawaii.
Maui and Molokai; also the cities OF
Honolulu, Hilo, Lahaina, Mountain
View and several smaller towns, and
took the testimony Of several hundred
individual witnesses OF all classes.
some at all OF these different places.
We also heard the representatives OF
various commercial bodies, chambers
of commerce. builders and commercial
associations, boards Of health, bank
,ers maritime boards and bodies repre-
senting the native Hawaiians.
We also visited and carefully inves-
tigated the quarantine station. near
Honolulu, anddhe proposed sites for
military post and naval station at Ho-
nolulu.
We also visited personally Honolulu
and Pearl harbors, on the Island OF
Oahu. and Hilo harbor, on the Island
of Hawaii, and took testimony bearing
upon the condition and wants of each,
with view OF determining as to the
necessary improvements for these har-
bors.
Our Investigations extended to the
financial, commercial and economic
conditions generally of the Territory:
TO the status, functions and operations
of all Territorial officials including the
executive, administrative and judicial
officers, as well those appointed by
Federal as by local authority.
We also carefully examined into the
and value of the public lands
(these include what were formerly
known as the crown lands); the Terri
torial land laws and the manner OF
disposing of the public lands, all Of
which is at present under Territorial
the General Government never
having extended any OF the land laws
Of the United States to this Territory.
We inquired carefully into those con-
litions more particularly affected by
he Organic Act, with the view of deter.
mining what, II any, amendments
should be made TO that act Of Congress-
We also made diligent investigation
" the local laws now in force in the
Territory, and of the operation of the
government hereunder, with the view
" determining as to the republican
character of each.
We also made investigation touching
everal Official defalcations by Terri
orial officials, some OF which occurred
,efore our arrival and others during
'ur visit to the Islands.
We made careful and thorough in
'estigation OF the management OF the
eper settlement on the Island OF Molo.
,ai and the condition and mode OF life
4 these unfortunate people, with the
lew OF determining whether the con-
rol and management Of this settlement {
hould remain as now under the Terri {
orial government or be transferred to I
he Government Of the United States.
We also made a careful Investigation {