The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-05
PROPOSED
LAND LAW

As the platform OF the Republican
Territorial Convention, held at Wal
luku last September, contained planl
urging the amendment OF Section 20 Of
the Organic Act, SO as to give the loca
Legislature the right to amend tn,
local land laws, certain Republican
members OF the next Legislature, as
sisted by several citizens, who have
given the subject some thought and
attention. with a view to the develop
ment of this Territory along Ameri'
can lines. have been engaged in draft
ing amendments to the existing local
land laws, which amendments, after
passage by the Legislature, with the
approval of the Congress of the United
States, shall have the same force and
effect as IL full power to alter OF
amend the local land laws had beer
conferred upon the local Legislature by
the Organic Act.
While the form of the amendments
proposed has not, as yet, been fully
decided upon, those having the matter
in charge deem 1t advisable, for the
purpose of giving public information
of the proposed amendments and excit-
| ing public criticism and suggestion
that at least the most salient features
OF the amendments proposed should be
submitted for publication.
As far as the subject matter has re-
ceived consideration up to the present
time, the amendments suggested pre-
sent the following features:
1. General power to dispose of public
lands shall be vested in the Commits
soner of Public Lands or Superintend-
ent of Public Works, as the case may
be, by and with the authority of the
| Governor, and with the approval and
consent of the Board of Commission
ers of Public Lands, constituted, Gre
atcd and provided for in the amend
ments proposed, the officials named to
have general power to lease, sell or
otherwise dispose of public lands, under
the control of each respectively. not
suitable for or adapted to agricultural
or pastoral purposes.
2. No government land shall be sub
ject to sale at public auction, If the
same be suitable for or adapted to ag-
ricultural or pastoral purposes, such
suitability or adaptability to be heter-
mined by the Board of Commissioners
of Public Lands.
3. Government lands not suitable for
or adapted to agricultural or pastoral
purposes may be sold at public aucs
ton by the commissioner, with the
consent and approval of the Governor
and with the consent and approval of
the Board of Commissioners of Public
Lands. after notice, to be given as pre-
scribed in the amendment proposed.
4. The commissioner may, by and
with the approval Of the Board of Com
missioners of Public Lands, without
public auction or notice, by quitclaim
or otherwise, dispose of rights in gov
eminent lands by way of compromise
or equitable settlement of the rights of
claimants, in cases of exchange or
sales of government lands in return for
parcels of land acquired for roads,
sites of government buildings or other
government purposes
S. All proceeds of sales of public
lands shall be set apart as a special
fund for the payment of the bonded
Indebtedness of the Territory, for the
purchase Of other lands for homestead
lease and right of purchase lease pur-
poses, for the repair, erection and
maintenance of public schools, and for
other educational purposes, including
the payment of salaries of teachers.
in the event that the amount appro-
priated by the Legislature at any BIZ
ennial session should for any reason
prove insufficient; for the construction.
maintenance and repair Of wharves,
docks. piers and landings, and for other
public purposes.
6. All public lands, suitable for and
adapted to agricultural or pastoral
purposes not under lease or subject to
any interest, agreement, contract, or
otherwise vested or acquired prior to
the going into effect of the amendments
suggested, under any law of the Terri
tory existing at or prior to that time,
shall, with all convenient speed, after
the going into effect of such amend
ment. and from time to time there
after, Immediately upon the public
lands of the kind and character re-
ferred to becoming available for the
purposes of the act, as amended, shall
be surveyed and set apart for occupa-
ton, settlement and acquisition under
the homestead lease and right of pur-
chase lease provisions of the existing
land laws, such part or parts, portion
or portions, and the whole of the pub
lie lands of this Territory, at and on
and after a day and time to be fixed
by the commissioner, with the approval
and consent of the Governor and of
the Board of Commissioners of Pub
lie Lands. which day and time shall
not be less than six months nor more
than one year from and after the TAX
ing effect of the act, as to lands sur
veyed at such time available for the
purpose, of this section, and as to lands
OF the kind and character referred to
from time to time thereafter so sur
veyed and set apart, said day and time
to be fixed in the manner specified. at
not less than six months or more than
one year after the lands aforesaid shall
become available for the purposes of
the act.
Z. Said lands to be laid out in lots