The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-03-16
TO QUESTION
THE GOVERNOR

The matter of the claims of the va
riOus foreign residents against the
Territory arising out Of the 'imprisOn-
ments ana other alleged i'll treatment
during 1898 came up in the Senate this
morning.
The following rather lengthy resolu-
ton was introduced by Senator Pal
mer Woods.
Whereas the governor in his first
message to this Lepisla ture, has asked
for an appropriation to pay the eX-
penses of a commission to inquire into,
and decide upon the validity and mag
nitude of certain claims heretofore
lodged against the late Republic of
Hawaii by certain persons of foreign
citizenship, for alleged i'll treatment
by the government of said Republic,
during the year 1885 in connection
with a riot which occurred in or near
Honolulu on January 6-I of said year
and
Whereas, it has long been under
stood that the governments of said
claimants respectively have ever since
been, and are now pressing said claims
for settlement before the govern
ments of the said late Republic, and
the United States as successor there
to; and
Senate of this Territory that such
claims should be promptly adjusted,
and if found to rest in justice and
equity, that they should be paid, with
out further unnecessary delay;
Nov, therefore, it is hereby resolV
ed by the Senate of the Territory of
Hawaii, that the Governor be, and is
hereby requested to furnish the Sem
ate, as promptly as may be, with all
the information at his command, up
on the following points, viz;
81. Was it, or was it not, either
tacitly or expressly agreed or under
stood between the government of the
late Republic and that of the United
States, at or about the time of the an
nexation of these islands by the Unit
ed States, that the United States
would undertake to, or would adjust
said claims with the governments who
were pressing for settlement of same,
and would pay or otherwise settle the
same with such s id foreign govern
ments?
so. If the government of the United
States did not so agree or give it to
be understood by the government of
| the said late Republic, what was the
understanding, If any reached between
said two governments concerning said
claims, and the manner of their pro-
posed adjustment and payment?
"3. Had the governor in mind, at
| the time of sending his said message
acter of a commission to which he pro-
| poses, or desires that the adjustment of
| said claims be referred? and if so,
| is it proposed or desired by the gov
/ eminent, that such commission shall
1 be appointed by said governor, or by
| the President of the United States, OF
| by some other person or official? and
if by somhe other person or official
then by what other person or official?
"A. Has the governor any definite
! views or intentions as TO the nationa-
| lily or the personnel Of which such
commission should be composed? and
! if the appointment thereof should be
left to said Governor by this legisla-
ture, what general principle would
said governor follow, in the selection
and appointment of such commission
and of how many persons does the
Governor think the same should be
composed?
90 Does not the Governor believe
that the better and more equitable
method of such adjustment of sait
claims would be to refer the samt
either to the Hague Tribunal, or to the
arbitration of some foreign Sovereign
or Jurist, and If he does not so believe
what reasons has the governor for {
contrary opinion?
"6. What special advantage does the