The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-22

eminent through surrendered or expir-
ed leases. We consider that the result
of such a course would be to defeat
the very object which we believe was
intended by the bill, and that is to
settle the lands with independent
; farmers. The procedure directed by
House Bill &C. in our opinion. would
enable large landed interests to obtain
control of the great bulk of the public
lands.
Under Sections 2S6 TO 289 of the Re-
vised Laws, which are repealed by
House Bill No sc, the Commissioners
of Public Lands is authorized to set
apart suitable portions of public lands
for the occupation of such persons as
may desire to obtain homesteads. Such
lands shall be selected only from agri-
cultural and pastoral lands, and shall
be laid out in lots of not over eight
acres in first class agricultural land
not over sixteen acres in second class
agricultural land, not over one acre in
wet land, etc. We believe it will be a
misfortune that this part of the law
should be repealed. This part of the
land laws providing as it does for the
practical giving of land for homesteads
with conditions as to descent, against
| assigning. mortgaging, etc, is of great
| benefit to Hawaiians.
| House Bill No S. by amending Sec
| ton 276, removes the r ght of the Com
missioner with the consent of the
Governor, to sell any public lands and
| by amending Section 278 takes away
the right of the Commissioner to make
| leases OF public lands.
| We think this IS a mistake. All pub
| lie lands are not suitable for sale or
disposal in small parcels, and in many
instances, in order that the same may
| be cultivated or made useful at all,
| leases of large areas have to be made.
If many of the lands now under lease
to plantations and others. and made
tilla BILE by waters which belong to the !
plantations and other private interests |
are cut up into small parcels without |
water rights, they will be practically |
useless for any purpose.
Under the present law a variety of |
methods of disposing of public lands to
settlers is authorized and said lands |
may be divided up in parcels of varying |
areas according to the nature, location
and quantity available, and under
present rules and regulations govern
ing the making of government leases
a clause is inserted in each lease which
back such lands for homestead or other
purposes authorized by the law
House Bill No. Sc amends Section 277
of the Revised Laws relating to the
disposition Of proceeds of sales of pub
lie lands and provides that such pro-
ceeds shall be set apart not only as
fund for the payment of the bonded
Indebtedness of the government or for
the purchase of other lands as provid-
ed in said Section 277 but also that
said proceeds may be used for the re-
pair, erection and maintenance of pub
lie schools and other educational pur-
poses, including the payment of sala-
RES of teachers in the event that the
by the Legislature is in
sufficient; also for the construction and
of wharves, docks and
other public works.
Under the third paragraph of the
joint resolution of annexation the pro-
ceeds from sales of public lands may
be used for the benefit of the inhabi-
tants of the Hawaiian Islands for edu-
cational and other purposes and under r.
the Organic Act, Section 70, all funds
arising from the disposal of such lands
shall be appropriated by the laws of !
the government of the Territory of
-
purposes for the benefit of the inhabf-
tants of the Territory as are consis-
tent with the joint resolution of an {
aexation. +
Section 277 of the Revised Laws may
therefore be amended without refer
7nce to Congress of the United States
ana we think that, independently of V
he adyisability of applying such pro- !
ceeds for any of said purposes other :
han for the bonded Indebtedness and
of other lands, such matter /
should be covered by a separate Act
In view of the Importance of the
subject and of the general feeling in
he community of these islands that r
he present public land system and
is administration should be improved,
We believe that it would be desirable 5
hat Commission be appointed to in
Eestfgate the legal operation and eff T
ect of the land laws. the manner of ;.
heir enforcement and administration,
ma their general adaptability with re- 1
'pect to existing conditions. and to re- t
port upon the matter; we therefore :
present herewith a draft of joint reso- =
ution relating to the subject and rec Z
that it be adopted. II
We recommend that House Bill No II
& be laid upon the table \
JOINT RESOLUTION. ?
Be it resolved by the legislature of a
he Territory of Hawaii: =
That the Governor of the Territory
hall, as soon as Practicable after the :
approval of this resolution, appoint a II
commission of three persons, to be r.
lnown as the Land Commission. :
Said Land Commission shall thor :
,ughly examine the laws of this Terri
DRY relating to public lands, and shall Il
consider and investigate the legal oper- a
Ltion and effect of said laws, the man
Ter of their enforcement and admins
ration and their general adaptability e.
With respect to existing conditions il
said Land Commission shall consider ;s
ways and means for the revision and
of said laws if they shall ID