The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-10-12
PEOPLE
WANT A ROAD
Continued from page one.)

Webster, Thomas Dunn and Charles L.
Rhodes. At the invitation of the COM
mttee, Land Commissioner Pratt was
present as being thoroughly familiar
with land matters in the valley.
A petition signed by all the home
steaders in, the valley, nearly fifty inI
number was presented. This was sup
plemented by remarks by members of
the committee urging the absolute
necessity of the road and urging that
the appropriation for it in the loan
fund, though it is not one of the items
included in the bond issue of $500
should be spent, or if that were not
possible, that this improvement be con-
sidered when it comes to expending
what money may be saved from the
specific appropriations of the $750,OOO
bond issue.
Governor Carter went very carefully
into the matter with the committee
and explained at length his views and
policy in the matter of the loan fund
appropriation. He reviewed the cir
cumstances of the increasing debt of
the territory, and the duty he felt un-
der to limit that increase to absolutely
territorial necessities.
He laid stress however, on the fact
that the loan bill was passed by the
legislature at a time when there was
uncertainty in many minds as to
whether County government had come
to stay or not. 1t was signed by him
at time when that uncertainty still
existed. 1t was framed and approved
in a measure, to meet a possible con-
tingency. If County government had
not been sustained then the loan bill
might have served a purpose which it
did not when County government was
sustained.
Aside, however from the fact, that
the appropriations in the loan bill were
admittedly not all of vital necessity,
the change to County government i'm
posed on him certain duties. In the
first place the County Act had turned
the control of many functions formerly
territorial functions, over to the coun-
ties. Among these was the maintenance
of the roads, But for the Territory to
build the roads and the County to main
tain them, would be the most expensive
way possible, because there would BE-
emulation among the several Islands to
get as much money as possible frc9l
the Territory to build roads, imposing
a duty on the Board of Supervisors to
maintain them over which the Boards
would have no control. Until, there
FORE the Legislature had expressly de-
clared it to be the policy for the Ter
ritory to build the roads or certain de-
finite classes of roads, he did not think
al tIa a1fy "A
thereby create a precedent.
In the change from one system to an
other there was necessarily some frtc-
tion' and some unforeseen difficulties
There were undoubtedly needs that had
to be neglected. But these ought moi
to deter from adhering to a sound pol
icy. He could give the committee M
encouragement to hope for a road from
the loan fund appropriation, but II there
is any other way in which it could bt
accomplished he would be glad to help
The discussion then turned on the
possibilities of other ways being found
and Land Commissioner Pratt suggest
ed that if these homesteaders would
act together, they might form a set
Element association under an amend
BtNH'NA
suggestion of the governor by the las
legislature, surrender their presen
leases and have the land re-allotted t
them under the provision of paying
the present appraised value i'm four in
stalments. If this We're done then un
der the law, the first two instalment
could be used in making roads to anC
through the land. Commissioner Prat
said he had not gone fully into tn
matter but believed that this could b.
done. The committee will report thi
matter back to the homesteaders, ant
he Governor promised to do whateve
he could do in the matter.
The following is the petition present
ed: As
TO the Hon. George r, Carter, Cover
nor of Hawaii.
Sir: The undersigned citizens of the
United States and of the Territory o.
Hawaii, and residents, or owners OF
lessees in Palolo Valley Island of Oah'
,asDactf,,Il.r t,rara the vital necessity TO