Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-26
He THINKS PEOPLE
|. HAVE KNOWN ALL
Ab5 81, 4,
Land Matter Discussed
And Sentiments
Applauded
THINKS that Whatever
IS Done WAS EXPECTED
Acting Governor Reviews Changes
That Are Contemplated by
Bill Before Congress

u
son OF the opposition expressed against
The work that the Governor Is doing for
Hawaii in Washington" said Acting
Governor Mott-Smith In an Interview.
Moreover II doesnot appear quite clear
whether the opposition is directes
against the particular amendments
which are proposed to the land laws
of the Territory, or, on general prin'
ciples, against amendments iof any
nature to the Organic Act. In either
case where are we at? 1t seems to
me that II we are continually uncer-
tain In Hawaii as to what we do wan,
we will not stand In avery good light
in Washington.
"The Governor announced very dis.
tlnctly what he proposed doing. He
announced his policy In public
speeches and was applauded; he an.
nounced what he considered to be the
views of the people of,the Territory in
regard to needed changes in the land
laws and every English paper in. the
Territory kokuaed him; the platform
Of each one Of the three political par.
ties in the last election called for a
change in the Organic Act in relation
TO the land laws. speeches were made
on the subject on hundred plat.
forms, editorials were printed by the
score and there was practically unan.
imous sentiment for a revision and
rimplification of the land laws, the only
differing being about the manner In
which the changes should be made
There was no question raised then by
anybody concerning the inviolability
of the Organic Act Neither has there
teen any question Of 1t in dozen
matters that have been agitated from
time to time in Hawaii.
1.-THE Governor appointed Land Ad'
visory Board and this board travelled
over the Islands. None of the evi
dence concerning the working Of the
present land laws pointed to sue
cessful working of the law In Its pres.
ent shape; none Of the ones who ap
peared before the public hearings OF
the board advised letting the law
alone. The Governor went over the
Islands with Secretary Garfield and
the Secretary met and talked with the
people; the Governor discussed on the
ground the questions Of lands, settle
ments and Americanization of the Is
lands with Commissioner Newell, an
expert in the matter; here and al
Washington he has discussed the
amendments proposed with Delegate
Kuhio. who represents the people Of
Hawaii, and with Mr.. Hatch and Mr.
Nice lellan, the Washington agents Of
the commercial bodies OF the Terri
tory. Before leaving Honolulu he an
nounced the main features of the pro
| pcsed amendments Has he or anyone
Else any reason to know that he l.
not doing Just what the people of thi:
Territory have expressed themselves
60 frequently as in favor, Of?
What are the amendments to tn,
land laws? One clause Incorporates
all the forfeiture clauses OF the OLE
law, simplifying the matter and max
ing Il so that any can can read the Law
ond know whether mr. NOT he ia fu,a,l
inc tha conditions A the law reaf
Io,oro there were renet,tious seem
|,ng Contradictions and /n,entv o
chances for disputes between the
commissioner nnd the settler Now
,hat trouble will he eliminated An
o,ha- amendment nroposed p,ves IN,
Portuguese on Punchbowl and other,