The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-09
CONFRONTING A
GRAVE EMERGENCY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. DIS
CUssEs A SERIOUS MATTER IN A
SERIOUS WAY-CONCLUSIONS.

At the meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce yesterday there was con-
siderable discussion as to whether the
ton to the Senatorial commission should
ton of the enatOrial Commission should
be taken up at this time, or whether
the Chamber should await the arrival
of the full text of the report.
George r.. Carter said that it was
doubtful if the complete report could
be secured for some time. First i'm
pressions We're frequently the best, de-
clared the speaker, and he thought it
would be far more effective to proceed
Immediately in the matter and let the
people at Washington know how vital
ly concerned and interested the people
of Hawaii were in this matter.
There is an impression on the
mainland continued the speaker
that Hawaii has a vast domain of I'M
explored lands similar to the Philip
pines. The people do not realize that
all of our lands have been opened up
in the American sense of the word.
The treaty of annexation provided that
the proceeds from the public lands of
Hawaii should be devoted to the peo-
pie of Hawaii. We and our children
are the ones who are interested in this
subject and it is for us to take steps
to oppose this proposed change in our
land laws. We alone are concerned
I and interested in this matter. Even if
the lands should be placed under Fed
eral control it would necessitate differ
ent accounts being kept because the
proceeds would not go into the general
fund but have to be devoted to tbs ter
ritory alone. The situation is entirely
different here from that on the main
land. a person in California is not
concerned in the way that the money
derived from the public land there shall
I be used for it goes into the general
fund. In the present instance, we
alone are concerned for the money is
to be devoted to this territoyr. 1t is
necessary for us to take immediate
steps to oppose this recommendation to
take our lands under the control of the
United States land laws
Considerable discussion then arose as
to Mr. Schaefer's motion. 1t was
amended to read that Congressional ac-
iton be delayed until the arrival Of a
memorial from the people of Hawaii
protesting against the change of the
land laws. This was finally passed af-
ter considerable discussion and debate.
A committee consisting of j. p. Cooke
f. "A. Schaefer and Fred Macfarlane
was then appointed to draft the cable
gram which was to be sent at once to
the two congressional chairmeh of the
Territorial committees.
The following cablegram was then de-
cided upon: Commercial bodies of Ha-
wall urge that action on Hawaii land
matters be delayed pending arrival of
memorial protesting against transfer of
Government land to Federal control
without further careful investigation"
The question of the memorial on the
land laws was then taken up. 1t was
the desire of the members that W. o.
Smith be a member of the committee
but as he was not a member of the or
ganizatiOn he could not be appointed.
1t was finally decided to consult with
him in the course of drawing up the
memorial.
The leper issue was then introduced
it had first seemed to many that the
cablegram would be sufficient but the
sentiment subsequently seemed to be
that a more detailed protest should be
made So after considerable discussion,
the committee to draft a second memo
rial on the leper question protest was
also appointed. 1t was then that the
original cablegram on this subject was
amended by the insertion of the words
announcing that the memorial was to
follow. These memorials will be for
warded to Congress at the earliest pos
sible time.
j. F. Hackfeld moved that William
Haywood, Washington representative
of the commercial bodies be acquainted
with the action of the Chamber. This
motion carried.
1t was suggested that Governor Dole
be communicated with and requested
to send q protest to Washington
against the leper matter and land
changes. Nh. SwanZy stated that Gov
ernor Dole was hunting i'm the Hawaii
mountains and probably could not be
found. 1t was suggested that Sc |
cretary Cooper might sign such pro-
test in the place of the Governor.
Mr.. Tenney remarked that as the |
Senatorial Commission did not seem to |
have very much use for this govern |
ment he thought that any protest from |
them might be apt to have the con- |
trary effect desired. 1t was decided |
TO await the raturn of Governor Dole |
on Saturday however before any action |
on this matte" be taken.
After the meeting adjourned Mr.. |
Macfarlane ard Secretary Spencer be- !
gan to hunt up the members of the va
Iious organizations who We're to be ask
ed TO sign the cablegrams Of protest on |
behalf of their respective organiza-
tons. The Trade and Labor Council !