Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-12


the general government and placed under
control of the Marine Hospital service.
The report states that, Notwithstanding
the large expense involved, the governor
and all Of the prominent officials Of the
territory insist upon the mana cement and
control of the lepers and leper settlement
for the territorial government.
Unfortunate conditions of morality were
found to maintain In the leper settlement,
and the report states that lepers' children
were born there and the leading officials
seemed to regard the condition as not only
permissible but protested vigorously
sexes which would prevent it.
The Fire Claims.
Testimony covering nearly 500 pages of
the report was taken under this head. and
sums up it's recommendation by urging the
passage of Senate bill 6216.
The Kohala Ditch Enterprise.
Concerning the Kohala ditch enterprise,
the committee likewise sums up its recon-
mendation in suggesting the passage of
House bill 1897, with the amendment now
pending in the Senate committee on Pacific
Islands and Porto Rico This amendment,
the committee believes, If adopted, will, in
connection with the House bill, protect all
interests of the government Of the United
States, the territorial government, and all
homesteaders. planters and other settlers.
The Claim OF L1uuokalani.
On the 10th of September the committee
received a petition signed by Liliuokalani
preferring claim against the United
States, and setting forth that at the time
OF the overthrow of the government she
was the owner in fee and was enjoying the
rents. Issues and profits Of certain real es-
tate situated in the Hawaiian kingdom
covering superficial area of 81 1854 acres,
and of the value of $2O,OOCOOO of which
she was dispoSessed by the terms of the
law annexng the Hawaiian Islands to the
government Of the United States.
Inc attorneys representing Liluokalanf
made proffer Of oral testimony that her de-
thronement and overthrow of the monarchy
was accomplished through the aid of the
American minister then at Honolulu and
the American navy, represented by the
warship Boston there at that point This
question the committee declined to go into,
bas1ng its conclusion on the following state
ment of Its chairman on the authority Of
the full committee:
Since no question can ever arise looking
to the restoration of the monarchy, the
committee is unanimously Of the opinion
that 1t is not necessary or proper to inquire
through oral testimony at this time into
the causes that led to the dethronement Of
the queen and the part that the United
states government had in that matter If
any. And waving for the present any de-
cision Of the question, as to whether an
inquiry into the causes which led to the
downfall of the monarchy, and the instru-
mentalities which co-operated in the de-
thronement of the queen, can be properly
made In considering the present claim, we
are or opinion that the evidence respecting
her reinforcement and all matters relating
thereto are now matters of political history
and official record, and upon this record
evidence must that question be determined,
II Its determination Is necessary.
1.-The committee, however would like to
be advised as to the sentiment Of the peo-
pie of this territory respecting the claim
of the queen and as to the wisdom and ad-
visibility, for any reason, of the United
States recognizing her claim by making her
some reasonable provision; and next, as to
the value Of the property and its rentals it
Is claimed were taken from her."
The Crown Lands.
The committee went into the subject of
the crown lands very fully, and found:
First. that the legal and equitable title
to all the lands hereinbefore referred to as
'crown lands is in the United States, and
has been since the date Of annexation.
Second. The legal title to these lands
never vested personally in the former
Queen Liliuokalani, but was held by her as
sovereign In trust for herself as sovereign
and her successors on the throne.
Third. From the date she assembled the
throne to the date of her reinforcement
Queen Liliuokalani was entitled, as her in
dividual separate estate, with the right to
use and dispose of it as she pleased, to the
entire rents accruing from these Grown
lands"
Fourth. That by the reinforcement Of the
queen and the establishment of provis-
ionable government in it's stead, which was
recognized not only by the people of Ha-
civilized nations of the globe, all legal
claim Of the ex-queen to any of these crown
lands, and to any future revenues arising
therefrom, was, under the MISUNDERSTOOD
principles of International law, at once and
forever cut off; and,
Fifth, whatever allowance is made to the
ex-Queen by the government of the United
States cannot, and must not, be based upon
any legal right upon her part or be In rec
ognition of any legal claim on her part on
account of loss of her sovereignty or crown
lands, but must rest solely upon considera-
tions of national grace, public and private
dealing upon the part of a great and DOW
erful undergraduates always recognized
in the great unerring forum Of the individ-
ual and national conscience.
An Authorized Council.
Among other institutions Of the govern
ment of the islands of which the committee
disapproves is the governors advisory
council, which they say is without any au-
thority Of law. All questions, even those
pertaining to slight improvements in dis
tant islands, are passed by this council.
The committee considers this an evil to be
remedied by the creation Of local municipal
governments throughout the territory
Referring to the recent defalcations on
the part Of officials in the islands the COM
mittee says:
There has recently been a perfect satur-
MALTA Of defalcations involving the admin
istration of Gov. Dole in q cloud and en-
shrouding his name in a maze of embar-
rassment." The committee criticises sharp
ly the present system, which requires no
bonds from persons engaged in fiduciary
positions, saying:
Although all these officers thus default
ing. except Woodward, Thompson, Chief
Clerk Wright and Walter A. Wright, were
appointed by Gov. Dole, by and with the
advice and consent Of the territorial senate,
inasmuch as 1t is conceded by all that
these defaulting officers had always prior
to their respective appointments, borne
good regulations for integrity and business
capacity, 1t would, in the opinion of the
committee, be unjust to attach any blame
on account Of these official irregularities to
Gov. Dole. 1t is, however, a matter of sur
prise that there Is no provision whatever
in the organic act or in any local statute,
requiring either the territorial treasurer or
any other federal or territorial officer, ex-
cept in the case of the assessor and tax
collector to give bond conditioned for the
faithful performance of the trust"
Your committee recommends such legis-
lation will compel every public officer,
both federal and tarriforiaJ Ubo hoe onx,