The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-11-13
COMM|SS|ONON
LAND LAWS
REPORTS
fFrom Mednesday,s Advertinerl

Lewis Jr., presented its report to the |
Governor. In fact three reports were
presented. The majority report was
signed by A, Lewis Jr., chairman; w.
b. Thomas, s. M. Kanakanui and j. p.
Cooke. A. w. Carter presented what
might he called concurring report,
though taking slightly different view as
to some matters. A third report was !
presented by Carl s. Smith. Mr.. Smith |
differs quite markedly from his CON
freres ON many points. w. A. Kinney,
who has been out of the Territory dur
ing most of the time since the Com
mission was appointed, and has not had
opportunity to take part in any of the
discussions has not joined in any of
the reports. =,
"'In all, the Commission received six
ty-three communications in response to
its request for suggestions, said Chair
man Lewis. 'iThis includes all com
munications. The most of these were
mere disavowals of desire or qualifica-
ton to make suggestions. Some were |
mere complaints of administration in
particular instances. Some were peti. |
tions addressed to us under total mis-
apprehension of our functions. Only
FIVE or six really contained construc-
| tive criticism.
Zone difficulty the Commission has
experienced has been to secure oppor-
tunity for careful discussion among the
members themselves. There has never
been meeting at which all were pres
ent. What discussion there has been
has been mainly between two or three
at time. The time within which we
were obliged to report was very limited.
We have not reported any radical
changes in the present law. We think
we have reported some that are of
value. The majority report after brief
ly reciting the appointment of the Com
mission and the conditions under which
its work was done, outlines the general
characteristics of Hawaiian topography,
the comparatively small area of first
class agricultural land and concludes
that the land laws of the United States
are inapplicable, that an elastic system
is required to meet the varying condi-
tions, and that the area of homesteads
should not be large. In order to get
actual settlers on the public domain
the law should be SO framed and ad'
ministered as to provide liberal terms
and sympathetic treatment to the bona
fide settler. There should be low
price and liberal terms of payment but
lille IN tbe land should be withheld for
In sufficient length of time to test the
bona f;des of the settler.
, AS to present methods the Com
mission recommends the retention of
the 999 wear leasehold as subscribing a
: useful purpose. The cash freehold and
> right of purchase lease system by re-
) uuiring large initial payments, lax pro-
visions as to cultivation and early at
\ tainment of patent, have led to many
, abuses, and while they should be retain
ed should be greatly amended. The
Settlement Association plan should be
repealed.
"The Commission believes that with
the exception of few amendments the
great land law problems of the Terri
tory are ones of administration rather
4 than of much needed Legislation.
y The Commission recommends nome
: stead agreement. Lands should be dis
posed of by lot OF drawings, giving al
y applicants an equal chance. ine aie'
;, should be the amount re"sonapy re
CURED to support iamiiy. me prie'
: should not pe less than teh pef eent
nor more .han twensy'nwe m pei . eon.' y. y,
. the APPRAISED value I an a hn ,os,
eultiVatiCn required snoIiu .l S,o nos ~ ,anS 0
!. 1nah nan tne area u .no as haeo.o ian nv
q liuo snoaiu NV ios. 20 s,s go ,,aars ros;donc9
q yeais, anu h n;.oS as ,y no+b;na loss thar
i. snoulu ue a.qat 49,; ~ onnpt
Ola INV lno'ns ~,';as;an @ reoommoras on
y =. -, tEo non Co.. .
aPp'ul'.l"' " VA eiass;eoat;on "a
eo"p'e, s .,,o mor,;to.,, ID
me .i pull % n;ao f .ano;nts frono nmh,
,he se',i"s a'e NV, " % naa r
nc M anus iol sne 'ie"s,om ] Az asto,,
,ne ton,i.'''on s p,opoot' oom;ss;or on ]
ho"n. sl ~ ,,.,,as, 10
asen,y ~ ril. t,ou - .o' sn p"'f
hamuiihg isiahu s,o"h az p''uu ot hou,
lne NV AZ M" %ni1 90 =. oono ion}
So wv" ai,ot,o ~, Co. honostaad nnr
peas 'oo nh;Ia hoi;a,,;na thot th,
posos, anu &c rnaavalnnod lona
o"Phe us',iS ho mo- ior nnrnose in tb
snstooa ] swstom halieves tba
.1ass a., h;s,h,,, dava,onoa snol
90 ' ,"a -, nyosopt nnder cnIt;yatio,
S sa anu a' oano shonId ha aradnoII'
auans for sottiemant ),
oonoI,,s;o, tho Comm;ss;on doe
~ ~, ~, ~ M,