Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-12

I
conditions IN the Hawaiian Islands This
subcommittee consisted Of Senator'S
Mitchell Of oregon, Burton OF Kansas,
Foster Of Washington CochTell Of MIS-
souri, and Blackburn Of Kentucky. The
last two named did not visit the ISL
ands, but Senator Blackburn Joined in
the recommendations numbering 20,
The visit to the islands was nude last
September, and covered % days during
which time meetings We're held and l76
witnesses We're Intercepted,
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION.
The Investigation was general and
covered all questions with which the
government possibly could be concern
ed, including the laws, local and fed
eral, and their execution, the public
lands, labor on plantations, the habors,
taxation, the leprosy settlement Queen
Lilioukalanfs claims and other SUB
fees The condition Of affairs In the
leper settlement on the island OF Molo-
ka excited the lveliest interest
The committee made a quite thorough
inquiry concerning this settlement which
Is under territorial control, with the
result that II recommends that the
management Of the colony be trans
ferred TO the marine hospital service
with headquarters in Washington, and
that a general leprosarlo or retreat for
all the lepers of the United states be
auta bIlch od IN that island
LEPER SETTLEMENT.
At the time Of the visit OF the COM
mlttee there were SjS lepers in the set
Element. The opinion Is expressed that
there are many hundreds of other
cases of leprosy IN the territory In
the past year on the Molokai settlement
there were 1ii deaths and l6 births In
the colony eight Of the children born
being illegitimate
Much diversity of opinion was found
In the territory as to whether the con-
troll Of the settlement should be re-
tained by the territorial government,
though all the territorial officers were
found to be favorable 10 such reten-
| ton. The committee takes strong
| grounds IN favor OF a change, and in
| this connection freely discusses the
conditions with reference TO The inn
morality which prevails, saying
BAD CONDITIONS or MORALS.
'your committee has been somewhat
surprised to find that under the exist
ing management Of the leper settle
ment legitimate and llegitimate
| cohabitatlon Is permitted in the
H., 10 gu
10 be celebrated between leprous men
and women, regardless of their physical
condition. Children are born In the
settlement Of leprous union, and as q
result of concubuage and, strange as
it may appear, the leading officials
seem to regard all this not only as per-
mlssable but protest vigorously
against a system Of segregation that
would prevent it,
Further along the commission says
| that unrestricted illegitimate associa
| ton ic permitted by the authorities, and
| adds
"The only attempt seemingly 60 abate
or minimize this eyil Is by connsellng
and earnestly urging marriage on the
part of the lepers. even so far in this d.
| rection as to aid in facilitating divorces
l
wife or husband outside of the settle
ment. so that the husband or wife thus
| released from the marriage obligation
might again be married to a leper or
| inmate Of the leper settlement
LABOR QUESTION
In connection with its discussion Of
| the labor question the committee takes
/ aHf 81 a H.
ness men of the islands 10 secure the
removal OF some of the restrictions on
| Chinese immigration. This desire Is
conceded TO be very general but sena'
tors mitchell and Foster representing q
majority of the subcommittee, take
very positive ground in opposition
! They say that the conditions are not
different in the islands from what they
arc in the mainland and make the usual
arguments against Chinese admission
| They contend also that the Chinese DO
much TO Introduce and maintain bu-
bonic plague and other contagious as
eases
Senator Burton takes the opposite
Wow. He saws that neither the native
nor the white man win work IN the
sugar fields and he calls attention
10 the freedom with which oriental la
Dor was broubht IN in the days Of mon
archy
IT is." he said "a well known fact
that the country was very prosperous
when Ii was a kingdom, and continued
very prosperous under the provisions!
ynverrment and under .he republic It's
period az decline began with coustitu-
ton and matters have gone on under
constitution from bad 20 worse until 20.
dny the spectre Of hard times Us round
everywhere throughout the Islands
He SAYS the chinese are preferable 20
fhe Japanese and he urges that 10 Is
am unfair discrimination 90 allow the
latter to come in unrestricted and not
10 permit the former 90 come I'm a. all.
lie suggests that Chinese be allowed 40
enter 20 perform agricultural labor and
for no other purpose.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Much space Is devoted to discussion
of he administration Of public lands
OF the territory and the come
mittee GAYS that the policy pur-
sued In Hawaii with refer
ence 10 those lands IS directly con-
trary to the policy pursued Do the Unit
"a states. II is remarked that whereas
the policy ON the maitland is 90 pre-
serve the lands Ter homes pr ihe people
the policy now being enforced in Ho-
waH "scems 10 De 90 utilize the public
domain solely Tor the purpose of revcn-
ne and consequently very little ~ the
public lands is being sold but large
tracts placed under long lenses a policy
which. On the Judgment of your cum
mlttee should not be- continued under
any circumstances or Tor any length
of time"
IN addition 20 the Recommendation
that the leasing system DE- abolished,
the committee suggests that the con-
troll OF the lands Immediately be taken