The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-01-10

to such beneficial purpose of the
statute. Not only is 1t against the
policy of the statute. but against the
whole policy Of the United States Gov
eminent, as well as our own Consti-
tuition, the Organic Act. The Organic
Act forbids any corporation to acquire
and hold real estate in Hawaii I'm excess
of one thousand acres" and provides
for escheat of all real estate so held
by a corporation in excess thereof
(Sec. 55). 1t further provides that mo
lease of agricultural land shall be
granted or renewed by the Government
of the Territory of Hawaii for a longer
period than five years" (Sec. 49,. Again,
it is provided that wharves and land
ings on any seacoast or harbor shall re-
main under the control of the Terri
tory, which shall enjoy the revenue
therefrom, ION condition that said
property shall be kept in good condition
for the use and convenience OF CON-.
merce,' etc. (Sec. 49,
If this proviso is construed as con-
tended for by the Territory, every inch
of public property on the Island OF
Lanai will be transferred to private
ownership and no wharves or landings
would remain under the control of the
Territory of Hawaii.
The bill alleges that the land of "Ka-
moku," containing about 5000 acres of
good grazing land, has about three
miles of sea frontage and good har-
bor'' Up. 81, and that the land Of "Pao-
mai," which Is good grazing land, has
about LIZ miles of sea frontage and a
fair harbor or landing (p. 81.
Report of Governor Of Hawaii for
1904, p. 81.
This report of the Governor refers to
the land of "Paomai" as Including one
fair landing" (p. 5D. Under what pol
icy of the law can 1t be that every
inch of public land on an island can be
sold, including a landing" in a fair
harbor, when the Organic Act allows
the Territory to control the harbors and
landings, ION condition that said prop
erty shall be kept in good condition
for the use and convenience of COM
merce,' and that the Federal Govern
ment shall not be charged for the use
thereof? What becomes of the policy
of the Organic Act requiring the land
ings to "be kept in good condition for
the use and convenience of commerce."
when the Government of the Territory
seeks to sell all its public land, which
includes the landings and wharves OF
Lanai? What will become of com
merce" If the Land Department is al
lowed to sell an entire island to one
man? That Congress provided that
some consideration should be shown
for the use and convenience of COM
merce" seems to trouble the Territorial
very little, for they not
only seek to give up the means of ac-
cess to this island, but to transfer the
whole thing to one man. If the policy
of American law is to allow one man
to own whole island, wharves. land
ings and everything on the island, then
are we not far removed from the days
of barbarism, when the absolute own
ership and control of all lands was
vested in the king.
Listen. however, to the latest utter
ance of President Roosevelt on the SUBJ
ject Of public lands in the Territory
of Hawaii. In his message to Congress
OF december ,, 1896, he uses the follow
ing language:
ROOSEVELT TO HAWAII.
'The needs of Hawaii are peculiar;
every aid should be given the islands.
and our efforts should be unceasing to
develop them along the lines of a COM
of small freeholders, not or
great planters with coolie-tilled es-
tates. Situated as this Territory is, in
the middle of the'Pacific, there are du-
les imposed upon this small community
which do not fall in like degree or
manner upon any other American
This warrants our treat.
ng it differently from the way in which
we treat Territories contiguous to or
by sister Territories or
States, and justifies the setting aside OF
a portion of our revenues to be ex<
pended for educational and internal
therein. Hawaii is now
making an effort to secure immigration
it in the end to assume the duties and
BURDENS of full American citizenship.
nd whenever the leaders in the various
Industries of those islands finally adopt
,ur ideals and heartily join our admin
stration in endeavoring to develop
middle class of substantial citizens, a
way will then be found to deal with
he commercial and industrial prob
ems which now appear to them so
erious. The best Americanism is that
which aims for stability and perma-
ency of prosperous citizenship, rather
han immediate returns on large masses
f capital
Is the transfer of the greater half of
n entire island the developing of Ha-
rail- "along the lines of community of
mall freeholds, not of great planters
( coolie-tilled estates? The Pres
ent's wish that 1.-The leaders in the
arious industries of these islands A.
ally adopt our ideals and heartily join
ur administration in endeavoring to
evelop a middle class of substantial
Itizens" might well have remained
,cked in his breast If our officials are
llowed to dispose of entire islands to
ne man.
Ii the officials of this Territory only
scognized the truth of Mr.. Roosevelt's
that The best Americanism
that which aims for stability and
of prosperous citizens,
ither than immediate returns on large
asses Of capital" then there would be
ray of hope that we might become
1 community of small freeholders not
great planters with coolie-tilled es-
faus ~ ~