Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-01-19

TEN be abolished, the committee sug-
gests that the control of the lands I'M
mediately be taken from the terrltor-
iaI government and be vested in the
interior department at Washington.
The appointment Of a surveyor gen.
eral for anG the creation of two land
districts in the territory are recon-"
mended, and it is suggested that the
secretary of the interior should be en-
powered to make thorough invest1-
cation of conditions pertaining to the
administration of the lands.
Almost a Monarchy.
The centralized character of the
present government is commented on
at length and very sharply criticised.
1t is declared there is very slight
difference in this respect from the
monarchial form of government pre-
ceding annexation. The committee
says that so marked indeed was this
centralized condition that it is difficult
to determine the extent and character
of the changes. This situation is due
to oversight on the part of congress
and to conditions existing in the
islands at the time of their acquisi-
ton, but it should not be permitted to
continue. The committee expresses
the opinion that if the people are not
granted the privilege of participating
in the government they in time may
revolt, and on this point says:
'The people of Hawaii as a mass
cannot be commended too highly for
their attitude toward the federal gov
eminent since annexation was con-
summated. They have shown
| spirit of devotion and loyal allegiance
to the republic and its fag worthy Of
all praise. Yet it is not strange that
those who held office under the late
monarchy and many Of whom are now
holding leading official positions in
the territorial government, should be
slow to relinquish many Of the old
governmental forms and practices
under which they lived and Of1ciated
for SO many years"
Among other institutions of the
| government Of the islands of which
the committee disapproves is the gov
ernor's advisory council which it
says, is without authority of law. All
| questions, even those pertaining to
slight improvements in distant
islands, are passed on by this coun-
Gil. The committee considers this
an evil to be remedied by the crea-
| ton Of local municipal governments
! throughout the territory.
Epidemic of DefaIcations.
Referring to the recent defaIcati0ms
on the part Of officials in the islands
the committe says: There has re
Gently been a perfect saturnalia of
defalcatiOns involving the adminstra-
ton of Gov. Dole in a cloud and en-
| shrouding his name in a maze of en-
| barassment." The commit % criticises
! sharply the present systeAA!, which
requires no bonds from persons en-
gagged in fiduciary positions, saying
! although all these officers thus de
| faulting, except Woodward, Thomp-
son, Chief Clerk Wright and Walter
| A. Wright, were appointed by Gov
! Dole, by and with the advice and
, consent of the territorial senate, in
asmuch as it is conceded by all these
defaulting officers had always, prior
to their respective appointments,
borne good regulations for integrity
and business capacity, it would, in
| the opinion Of the committee, be I'M
| just to attach any blame on account
| of these official Irregularities to Gov
| Dole. 1t is, however, a matter of
surprise that there is no provision
whatever in the organic act, or in any
other federal O" territorial officer, ex-
cept in the case of the assessor and
tax collector, to give a bond c0ntfi-
toned for the faithful performance of
the trust. In the case of the assess
or and tax collector, while the loca1
statute requires him to give bond in
not less than $4,000, he was only re-
quired to give bond and is now
under such bond in the sum of but
$4,000, while by his own testimony
before the committee he may have as
much as $650,000 taxes in his hands
and under his control at one time.
I'm not requiring a greater bond from
this officer your committee recon-
mends such legislation as will COM
pei every public officer, both federal
and territorial who has control of
public funds. to give a sufficient bond
to cover any and all delinquencies."
Pension for the Ex-Queen.
The committee finds that Queen
Liliuokalani had no personal interest
in the crown lands which have been
claimed for her, but only an official
interest during her reign. Such in
terest would have entitled her to the
rental of the islands. and the commit
tee finds thai from the time Of the
Reinforcement in 1898 to Sept. 1 last
the rental would have amounted to
$432, 378 In view of all the circum-
stances the committee recommends
that, as an act both Of justice and
national grace and wisdom. that the