The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-12

The commission recommends that the
management OF the colony he transferre"
20 the marine hospital service with head
quarters in Washington and that gen
erai Ieprosarie of retreat for all the lepers
of the United States be established on
that island.
At the time OF the visit of the com
mittee there were SOS leprous patients
in the settlement. The opinion Is ex-
pressed that there are many hundreds
OF. other cases OF leprosy In the territory
In the past year on the Molokai settle
ment here were 144 deaths and l6 births
in the colony. eight OF the children born
be,nr meeitimate. The committee freely
discusses the conditions with reference
20 morality which prevail, saying
A STRANGE CONDITION.
.Your committee has been somewhat
surprised to find that under the exist
ing management OF the leper settlement.
indiscriminate legitimate and ilegitimate
cohabitation is permitted in the settle
ment
Marriages are suffered to be celebrated
between leprous men and women, regard
less OF their physical condition. Children
are born In the settlement OF leprous
unions and as result OF concubinage,
and, strange as it may appear, the lead
Ing officials seem 20 regard all this not
only as permissible. but protest vigorous
~ against a system or segregation that
would prevent it,
Further along the committee says that
unrestricted illegitimate association Is
permitted by the authorities.
In connection with its discussion OF the
labor question the committee takes up
the effort on the part OF business men or
the islands 10 secure the removal OF some
Of the restrictions on Chinese inlmgra-
tion. This desire Is conceded TO be very
general but Senators Mitchell and Foster,
representing a majority OF the sub-com-
mittee. take very positive ground In oppo-
eItlon.
They say that the conditions are not
eiffercnt in the islands from those on the
mainland and make the usual argument
against Chinese admission. They con-
tend also that the Chinese, do much
90 introduce and maintain b1oonic plague
and other contagious diseases.
Senator Burton takes the ppposlts view,
He says that neither the natives nor
white men will work in the sugar helds
THE PUBLIC LANDS
Much space is devoted 10 discussion
OF tho administration OF the publ, lands
Of the territory and the committee finds
that the policy pursued in Hawaii with
reference 20 those lands g directly con
frnry 10 the policy pursued IN the United
States. IL Is regarded that whereas the
policy on the mainland 81 TO preserve
the lands for homes for the
people, the policy now being enforced IN
Hawaii seems TO be TO utUzs the pub,
lc domain solely Tor the purpose of rcy.
enue and consequently but very httle q
the public lands are being sold. but larg,
tracts placed under long leases. n policy
which In the Judgment Of your com
nittee. should not be continuor under any
circumstance of for any len IN u time.
In addition 10 the recommendation
that the leasing system be abolished the
committee suggests that the control ol
the lands Immediately be taken from ths
territorial government and be vested IN
the interior department at Washington.
CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT.
The centralized chaSacter Of tho pres.
ent government is commented on a'
length and very sharply criticised. IL n
Declared there ~ very slight difference IN
f<p respect from tho mOnarchical form
~ government preceding annexation. The
committee says that 50 marked indeed
was this centralized condition that n n
difficult 10 determine the extent and char
acter OF the changes This situation. they
think fs due 10 oversight on the part of
She congress and conditions existing In
the islands at the time Of their acquisl-
fIon. but they think n should not be per-
mtffed 10 continue. They express the
epinion that n the people are not granted
the privilege OF participating IN the gov
ernment they I'm time may revolt.
Among other Institutions of the gov
'9rnmcnt OF the islands OF which the COM
mittse disspproves r. the governors ad-
v1eory council which they say n without
onS authority of law All questions. even
1hore pertaining 20 slight Improvement In
1Ie(ept Islands. are paased on ~ this