Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-13
Many Witnesses Examined By
Senators During investigation.
OVER EIGHT HUNDRED LEPROUSCASES
Refers to Labor Question in Pacific
Islands and Desire of Business Men
to Take Restriction From Chinese
immigration.

Washington. Jan. 12.--When the
senate met today, Senator Mitchell of
Oregon submitted the report of the
committee appointed to investigate
the affairs in the Hawaiin islands and
Porto Rico.
This subcommittee consisted
of Senators (, Mitchell, of Or
egon; Burton, of Kansas; Foster,
but Senator Blackburn Joined in the
mittee consisted of Senators Mitchell,
of Oregon; Burton, Of Kansas; Foster,
of Washington; Cockrell, of Missouri,
and Blackburn of Kentucky. The last
two named did not visit the islands,
but Senator Blackburn jpoined in the
recommendations, numbering twenty
six. The visit to the islands was made
last September and covered twenty
five days, during which time forty
three meetings were held and ITO wit
nesses were interrogated.
Touches Many Questions.
The Investigation was general and
covered all questions with which the
government possibly be, concerned, in
| Guiding the laws. local and, federaTand
their execution, the public slands, la
bor the plantations. the harbors, tax
alton, the leprosy settlement, Queen
Liliuokalani's claims. and other sub
jects. The condition of affairs in the
Leper settlemention the Island of Mol
okai excited the liveliest interest.
Leprous Gases.
At the time of the visit of the COM
mittee there were S58 patients in the
settlement. The opinion is expressed
that there are many hundreds of other
casts s of leprosy in the territory. In
the past year on the Molokai settle
ment there were IA deaths and 16
births in the colony, eight of the chill
dren born being illegitimate.
Lepers Marry.
Much diversity of opinion was found
in the territory as to whether the con-
troll of the settlement should be retain
ed by the territorial government,
though all the territorial officers were
found to be favorable to such reten-
tion The committee takes strong
grounds in favor of a change, and in
this connection freely discusses the
conditions with reference to morality
which prevail. saying:
"Your committee szrrh been some
what surprised to find ( lnder exist
! ing management of the leper settle
ment, indiscriminate legitimate and il
| legitimate cohabitation is permitted in
/ the settlement Marriages are suffered
to be celebrated between leprous men
and women, regardless of their phys
ical condition,
Labor Conditions.
| In connection with its discussion of
| the labor question, the committee
takes up the effort on the part of the
| business men of the islands to secure
the removal of some of the restric--
tions on Chinese immigration. This
desire is conceded to be very general
but Senators Mitchell and Foster, rep
resenting a majority Of the sub-com
mittee, take very positive ground in
opposition.
The Government.
The centralized character of the
present government is commented on
at length and very sharply criticised
They express the opinion that if the
| people are not granted the privilege OF
participating in the government they
| in time may revolt.
Opposes Looseness.
Referring to the recent defalcations
on the part of officials in the islands
the committee says: There has re
Gently been a perfect saturnalia OF
defalcation, involving the administra.
ton Of Governor Dole in cloud and
enshrouding his name in a maze OF
embarrassment" The committee criti
cizes sharply the present system
which requires no bonds from persons
engaged in fiduciary positions.
Title Land Claims.
The committee finds that Queen Lii
iuekalani had no personal interest in
the crown lands which have beer
claimed for her. but only an official in
terest during her reign,