The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-27
L|L|UOKALANPS CLAIM
IS SHARPLY DISCUSSED
Not Likely That 1t Will Reappear in This Con-
gress Since the Motion to Recommit Was
Lost---The Senate Debate.
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)


WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. r5-I
Probably the claim of ex-Queen Liliuo-
kalani for compensation on account Of
loss of crown lands was effectual1y kill
ed for this congress when the Senate
today, by tie vote, refused to pass it.
The bill came up Friday last and,
provoked long debate. Much opposition
developed and Senator Spooner made a
motion to recommit. That developed
the absence of quorum and the matter
went over till today's session When It
was brought to a vote again today the
motion to recommit was lost ~ to "a
The bill was then amended so as to
make the amount of the payment $780,
900. Then the amended bill was lost
by tie vote.
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, who adj
vocated the payment said today there
might be chance to get the bill through
although it was somewhat doubtful.
The lobbyists, who have been working
for the claim, haunted the corridor as
the Senate was considering it.
AS soon as the bill was reached Fri
day on the calendar of the Senate it
was read as follows:
Be. it enacted, etc. That the Secre-
tary of the Treasury be, and IS hereby
authorized to pay to Llliuokalani,
formerly Queen of the Kingdom of Ha-
waii, in full satisfaction and discharge
of all claim, legal and equitable, $780,
600.
Senator Plat, OF Conn, Immediately
proposed an amendment to strike out
the words I'm full satisfaction and dis
charge of all claim, legal and equitable,
and then the debate started. Senator
/, Kean, of New Jersey, inquired If there
were any report on the bill. There had
| been none drawn, as matter OF tact,
but subsequently the Senate spent con-
siderable time in nnding that out. Sen
ator Platt declared that under the cir
, cumstanceS 1--WE may just as well strike
out those words and pay her the $500
600 without stating what we pay it for,
, He disclosed little later in the debate
that it was not his intention to vote tor
the bill in any form.
Mr.. Blackburn said he hoped the
amendment of Mr.. Plat would not be
adopted and Mr.. Hoar, who was one OF
the pioneers in the Senate in cham
pioning the payment of sum to the
/ ex-Oueen said he thought she had equit-
able rights Mr. Blackburn added that
the report in favor of the bill was
| unanimous from the Senate Committee
on the Pacific Islands and Porto Rico
Since the dethronement OF the Queen
| and the taking possession of the crown
lands, which were hers as long as she re-
tanned the sovereignty of those Islands,
continued Senator Blackburn, the gov
eminent has received in round numbers
| an average yearly rental of $4,000 from
those lands. So about hall million
OF money has been collected since her
| dethronement as the rents OF the crown
lands alone
In the course of the debate the amount
of these rentals and the beneficiary OF
them was inquired into extensively by
Senators. The replies developed the IN
| formation from Senator Mitchell, Oh
Oregon, and others that the exact
amount of the rentals IN ten years has
| been S432, $500 and that that amount
| has gone into the federal Treasury here
in Washington, not into the Territorial
| treasury.