Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-10-24
CnAS. WILCOX
ON Land Laws
Excellent Suggestions for
Meeting Conditions
On Maui

A. Lewis, Jr., Esq, Chairman Advis-
|. ory Land Law Commission, Ho-
nolulu. t
| Sir:--I beg to present to your Com
mission the following suggestions for
changes in the land laws for your
consideration, to-wit:
That the sale of public lands be
limited to individuals desiring home-
steads, or individuals or corporations
intending to establish a business, or
conditional to the making of perma-
nent improvements for given pur-
pose and of a given value.
That the sale of large tracts of
land for cattle or sheep runs be dis
continued.
Cane lands and pasture lands to be
leased for fair rentals. Is years and
n years respectively, as provided.
Waste lands or lands of undetcr-
mined economic value are not to be
sold but may be leased.
Sell lands on easy terms for home-
stead purposes, at. say, SO per cent.
OF Its appraised market value, TO cit
liens or eligibles who would build
homes thereon and improve same.
Town lots and small lots for indus
trial sites may be sold at public auc-
ton. Require residence or improve
ment within given time as a con-
dillon to bar out land Spectators.
Land exchange transactions to be
submitted to the Senate for ratifica-
ton when appraised value of land
involved exceeds $1,000. Land ex-
change is an appropriation OF public
property for public purposes and
should be confirmed by the lcgisla-
tive branch Of the government.
Ilomesteads. Only suitable lands
should be opened and surveyed for
homesteads.
Homesteads on wet lands to be
two or three acres in area, together
with at least ten acres kula land for
house site. pig-styes. COW and horse
pasture. and other farm purposes.
Homesteads on other lands to
range in size from 20 acres for the
smallest to 200 acres.
Let homesteaders take lands under
"a the right of purchase lease and
CD under the cash freehold plan.
After complying with conditions un-
der right OF purchase lease may get
patent issued 10 to 81 years: under
cash freehold patent to issue s to 10
years. Abolish the 999-year home
stead lease plan.
Modify qualifications SO that
homesteader may take up home
stead on public lands even IL he
owns other real property of tax
able value not in excess of 1000.
Homesteader must maintain a
home on his lot and must occupy
same In person, or he may have his
wife or child or parent or other rela-
tive being the heir presumptive,
maintain such residence for him.
Homesteader must build house on
land, cultivate crops or raise stock
according to the kind of land taken.
Must show when proving up OF hav-
ing put his lot to some use. filing
affidavit showing value OF produce,
whether sold or not. II a wet-land
homestead must build waterways nee
cssary to irrigate same. II other ag-
ricultural land must fence In part
under cultivation with lawful fence.
Requirement that the whole of a
homestead lot must be fenced in to
be abolished. Fencing being only a
protective nonproductive improve
ment is an unnecessary burden to a
homesteader.
A homesteader, while only an .oc-
cupier of an unfenced homestead,
may only take up estrays for dam
aging improvements.
Where deposit of portion of
the price for homestead lot Is re-
quired to be handed in with the APP
plication time limit of say six
months should be set, whether or not
the land applied for is to be allowed
the applicant; otherwise the deposit
to be returned, and II deposit is not
returned In twelve months from date
Of application homesteader may take
possession of lot and proceed to COM
ply with residence requirements as
IL his application had been regularly
allowed. t
All deposits handed in with appii-
cations and partial payments on land
purchases to be paid into the Treas
ury as government realizations. The
Land Commissioner be given a SUM-
Client appropriation out OF which to
refund such moneys when such re-
funds have to be made. The prac-
tice OF keeping such moneys as 1t
were lin escrow" should be discon-
tinued.
Yours truly,
CHAS. +. WILCOX.
| on rryy,