The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-05
7, J. RYAN ON SOME
CURRENT QUESTIONS

Mountain View, Hawaii, Jan. 80, 1903
Editor Advertiser: L notice that
many people seem to be alarmed be-
cause the Japs are beginning to vote
and many did vote at the last election.
1 am more alarmed at the ignorance
of our officials for letting them vote
Illegally. The Jap voted on the claim
that he was twenty-one years of age
and born in Hawaii. Suppose that
was all true; it did not qualify him to
vote. Hawaii did not become Amer
lean territory until July Z, 1898. A lit
tie more than six years ago and the
Constitution Of the United States was
not extended to Hawaii until April 80,
1900
Twenty-one years ago Hawaii was
not American soil and the fact that
any person born here at that time
would not entitle him to any rights
and Congress is prohibited by the Con-
stitution from passing any retroactive
laws. No such laws We're passed by
Congress on this matter. It seems that
our public officials have SO much su
gar in their eyes that they are blind
to every thing else.
I also notice that Mr.. Pratt, Land
Commissioner, has commenced enact
ing land laws viz: Every lease of
government land that runs for more
than five years made hereafter will
contain a provision to the effect that
if any of the land shall be found, after
lease, to be agricultural it shall go
back at once into the government do
MAN,
I am not a lawyer but I think it
would not take much of lawyer to
show Mr.. Pratt that he can not en-
force any such provision after his lease
for twenty-one years is once made. The
Land Act of 1895 re-enacted by Con-
gress shows by statute what the terms
of such leases are and the lessee can
whistle at him and his provision. While
Mr.. Pratt is in session as a legislative
body it would be well for him to enact
another section showing how to pro-
coed to determine whether the land is
Agricultural or otherwise. Is it not
plain that it will all rest upon the bare
opinion of Mr.. Pratt from which there
is no appeal? Brown, Boyd and Pratt
have fooled some of the people all
the time" No doubt Pratt can con-
tinue to do so.
And the Advertiser says: What will
the Planters do?' That's dead easy. /
1HeS VIII pass Il resolution ana never
take any steps to carry it out. They
will secretly, if not openly, fight new /
public land law just as the Advertiser I
has done. Just as the Bulletin has
done. Just as the Star has done. Just I
as the press all over the Territory with |
few exceptions has done. That's what !
the Planters will do
I fully agree with Jared Smith in all /
that he says and it would be a happy
day for Hawaii and its people. the /
planters included, if it could come |
about tomorrow. It would mean more |
sugar, more money, more property, 7
more general prosperity to all concern /
ed than Hawaii viii ever see under the T
present system. The enactment of d +
uniform Homestead Law by Congress
for Hawaii would do wonders in the
way of progress here such as the bill
introduced by Senator Mason in the
18th Congress which can be found on
ages 654 TO 663, part 8, Hawaiian In
yestigation, by the Senate Commission.
The Hawaii Herald published it at Hilo
and recommended it as good bill.
Will the Advertiser publish it and show
What Is good or bad about it? Let
he public have a whack a it as it is
coming UP again in Congress in due
ime. T. J. RYAN.