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

conditions in the Hawaiian Islands This
subcommittee consisted Of Senators
Mitchell Of oregon. Burton Of Kansas
Foster Of Washington Cockrell 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 Is.
The visit to the Islands was made last
September and covered Is days during
which time meetings were held and l16
witnesses were 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 SUD
ices The condition of affairs In me
leper settlement on the Island OF Me!o-
ka excited the liyeliest interest
The committee made a quite thorough
inquiry concerning this settlement, when
Is under territorial control with me
result that It recommends that the
management Of the colony be trans
fefred TO the marine hospital service
with headquarters In Washington ana
that a general leprosari0 or retreat Tor
All the lepers of the United states be
established on that island.
LEPER SETTLEMENT,
At the time Of the visit Of the COM
mittee there were 1858 lepers In the set
tement 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 til deaths and l6 births in
The colony eight Of the children born
being ilegitlmate
Much diversity Of opinion was found
I'm the territory as 20 whether the con-
troll Of the settlement should be re-
tnined by the territorial government,
though an the territorial officers were
found to be favorable 10 such reten-
! ton. The committee takes strong
| grounds In favor of change, and IN
| This connection freely discusses the
conditions with reference TO the I'M
morality which prevails. saying
BAD CONDITIONS OF MORALS.
your committee has been somewhat
surprised 60 find that under the exist
ing management Of the leper settle
ment legitimate and illegitlmate
cohabitatlon Is permitted in the
settlement Marriages are suffered
10 be celebrated between leprous men
| and women. regardless Of their physical
condition Children are born In the
settlement OF leprous union, and as @
result of concubinage, and, strange as
Il may appear the leading officials
seem to regard all this not only as per-
missable, but protest vigorously
against system OF segregation that
| would prevent IT,
Further along the commission says
that unrestricted iliegitimate associa.
ton ic permitted by the authorities, and
adds.
"The only attempt seemingly to ahatt
or minimize this evil is by counselinl
and earnestly urging marriage on tn
mart Of the lepcrs even so far IN this III
rectiOn as to aid In facilitating divorces
where a leprous man or woman mas
wife or husband outside OF the settle
ment so that the husband or wife thus
released from the marriage obligation
might again be married 70 a leper OF
inmate OF the leper settlement
LABOR QUESTION.
In connection with It's discussion OF
the labor question the committee takes
on the effort on the part Of the busl'
ness men Of the islands 10 secure th'
removal OF some Of the restrictions on
Chinese immigration. This desire u
conceded 10 be very general, but sena'
tors mitchell and Foster, representing
majority OF the subcommittee, tax
very positlve ground In opposition
They say that the conditions are no
different IN the Islands from what they
arc I'm the mainland and make the usua
arguments against Chinese admission
They contend also that the Chinese d'
much 10 introduce and maintain bu
bonic plague and other contagious DIS
eases
Senator Burton takes the opposite
Wow. He SAYS that neither the natiy
nor the white man win work in IN
| suRar fields and he calls attention
~ the freedom with which oriental la
h5r. was broubht In Ia the days OF mon
archy
III u.s." be said. "a well known FAC
1 that the country was very prosperou
when b was a kingdom, and continues
very PROSPEROUS under the provison9
goverrment and under the republic lt
period of decline began with a c0usitu
ton and matters have gone on under
constitution from bad 90 worse until 20
dpv the spectre OF hard times is ioun'
everywhere throughout The islands.
Hc saws The Chinese are preferable Z
J 'he Japanese and he urges that u !
AM unfair discrimination 90 allow III
latter no come in unrestricted ana M
no hermit the former to come iu a. all
Ue suggests that Chinese be- allowed O
enter tc perform agricultural labor am
for no other purpose.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Much space is devoted TO discussion
OF the administration Of public land
of the territory and the com
mittee Gays that the pnlIcy puf
sued in Hawaii with refer
erce to those lands Is directly con
trary to the policy pursued 10 The Unit
ed states. IL Is remarked thut Wlerea
the policy on the mainland IS 90 pre-
serve the lands for homes f.r the pecpl
the policy now being enforced IN Ho
waH seems 20 be 90 utilize the publ
domain solely for the purpose OFF reren
ne and consequently very little Of In
public lands S. being sold but larE
tracts placed under long leases a polio
which. I'm the judgment OF your com
mittee. should not be- continued u1de
any circumstances or for any lengtl
on time
In addition to the Recommendation
that the leasing system b. abolished
the committee suggests that the con
troll Of the lands Immediately be tskei