davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12
Buy It Now

family: also to prevent repeating:
and also to prevent the disposition
Of public lands to aliens.
On page there are provisions
against disposing of the land by
lease or otherwise until after patent
obtained.
The Chairman-Are there many
large landed estates there privately
owned?
Governor Frear--Yes.
The Chairman-IIow large ara
some of them?
Bishop Estate
Governor Frear--The largest is
that owned by the Bishop estate. II
contains $500 acres. Then there
are number OF others which are
very large.
Mr.. McClellan-The Bishop estate
Is u charitable trust, Senator.
The Chairman-Yes; know Il Is.
Senator Warner-How do the 9TH
er large estates compare with the
Bishop estate.
Governor Frear-There are num-
Der OF other tracts owned by single
individuals or corporations or es-
tates. the largest Of which, think,
does not exceed 10000 acres owned
In fee simple. There Is one property
consisting OF 100000 acres, but Il
large portion OF Il is under lease.
some from the government and some
from private parties.
The Chairman-Are those lands
under cultivation. practically?
Governor Frear-Not as a rule.
Portions OF them are under cultiva-
ton. Very large portions OF them
are incapable of cultivation, being
covered with recent lava flows or be-
ing above the line of possible vegeta-
tion-high upon the mountains-or
cut up by canyons with PERCEPTIONS
sides.
The Chairman--Such lands as you
now describe are OF no value ut all,
| suppose?
Governor Frear-Large portions OF
these large estates are of little value.
For instance, the Bishop estate con-
sIsts of $4,000 acres. A recent In
yestigation by an expert has resulted
in finding that only 8 per cent OF It
is arabic. think myself It is an un-
derestimate. but stiU that was the
report.
Senator Flint-Can you give us
the names OF other large landhold-
ers and the amount of land In those
estates that is cultivated or can be
cultivated?
IT. D. nnut;naah
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12
Says We Are,
Not Ready For
Complete Control
RESPONSE TO QUERY BY FORAKER - STATEMENT CONCERNING
LARGE LAND HOLDINGS BY ESTATES AND CORPORA
TONS - PLANS OUTLINED FOR DRAWING
PUBLIC LANDS '~'

Hearing on bill to amend Organic
Act of Hawaii held by Senate Com
mittee, Senator Foraker chairman.
CONTINUED from Monday
The Chairman-The government
had two or three kinds of lands, did
Il not?
Governor Frear-Yes. There were
the old crown lands, the income from
which went to the reigning sover-
elgn.
The Chairman-About what is the
amount OF those lands?
Governor Frear-They amount,
think, to about 800, 900 or 1000, 900
acres.
The Chairman--Is that a part of
the present estimate of 1876, 7O5
acres?
Governor Frear--It is. Upon the
overthrow of the monarchy the
crown lands became government
lands, differing In no respect from
other government lands.
The Chairman-What other kind
of land does the government have
besides the crown lands?
Governor FreapNThere are what
are known as 'school lands" con-
sisting of lands set aside in 1850 by
the government for the support of
schools. These are under the control
OF the department of public instruc-
tion and may be sold or leased by
that department. or course, many
OF them are used for school pur-
poses.
The Chairmap-They are a part
OF the same grand aggregate of l.
7G7705 acres that you mentioned?
Governor Frear--Yes, Then there
Is a portion of the public lands
which Is in actual use for public pur-
poses-as, for instance, for public
building sites, parks. roads, forest
reservations, and such things. These
lands are under the department OF
public works, while the general
lands which are intended for pur.
poses of settlement are under the
commissioner of public lands.
Right here may say that some
provisions In this section are in
tended, for the purpose of simple
ity. to put all these lands under the
commissioner OF public lands except.
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12

unirrigated public lands. The lands
there are, many of them. irrigated,
but all lands as a rule that are suit
able for settlement purposes require
considerable capital for their devel-
opment. They yield heavily and are
of great value. The same reasons
which require, for instance, small
holdings on the reclaimed arid lands
Of ,this country would require small
holdings there. The idea is to have
the lots OF no greater area than Is
required for the support of family.
1t is intended also to increase the
conditions OF residence and cultiva-
ton by requiring residence, say, for
five years, and requiring by the end
of five or six years the cultivation of
perhaps as much as 80 per cent of
the arabic area of the lot sold. At
the same time II is intended to make
the terms of payment easier by dis
tributing the payments over ten
years and without interest.
The Chairman notice the provi-
sion is, In the first place, that the
land shall be sold after public no.
tice." 1t does not specify how long
a notice shall be given. Do you not
think there ought to be some speci-
iication?
Governor Frear-Later on
The Chairman-Then, IL ! may In
the same connection call your atten-
ton to 1t, 1t provides that the lands
may be disposed of after public no.
tice by drawing or by auction"
What do you mean by drawing there
"a sort of lottery scheme?
Governor Frear7-Yes. At present
the lands are sold at public auction
generally, and they are apt to be run
up and to be put beyond the means
OF great many OF the persons who
would desire to become settlers. II
10 thought well to authorize their
disposition by drawing, the same as
is done here In disposing OF public
lands, especially the reclaimed lands.
The Chairman-We have a system
of drawing?
Governor Frear-Yes.
The Chairman was not aware
of it, What is IL?
Governor Frear-When a tract OF
land is opened for settlement It is
advertised thoroughly throughout the
country and then applications are
filed. There may be a hundred
thousand applications for lots in {.
particular tract.
The Chairman-Oh, yes; I under
stand now what you mean.
Governor Frear-But of course
there are not lots enough to 20
around. In order to be fair and not
give them out to applicants in the
order OF their application they have
a drawing, and the applicants select
their lots In the order OF their dra W
ing.
Senator Milton-It is also to pre-
vent litigation and strike. / think,
which would arise II We did not have
some system OF allotment. .,
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12

asking merely to get your opinion on
that point.
Governor Frear-When the organ
lc act was enacted II was thought
that the settlement or management
Of the public lands there was more
than matter OF mere local interest.
1t was a matter of national interest,
with view to building up those ISL
ands with small proprietors who are
American citizens or will become
American citizens, and It was
thought unwIse to permit the local
legislature to leglslate on this sub
ject because Of the dangers. 1t might
be that they would open the way for
aliens to acquire the lands; It might
be that they would open the way for
corporations to acquire them. and Il
was thought safer to retain the pow
er in Congress. and l am inclined to
think II would be safer still to keep
II there.
The Chairman-That is the point.
| was In the Senate when We adopted
the organic law for Hawaii and am
familiar with the sentiment that led
us to legislate to retain control of
the lands. But I was asking you
what is your opinion now. In view
OF eight years of experience. whether
you would have us still keep that con
troll here or turn It over to the local
legislature.
Governor Frear-I am inclined to
think that we are not quite ready
for that authority.
The Chairman-Very well. Go on
with your explanation.
Executive Discretion
Governor Frear-I was going to
explain the matter OF giving such
wide discretion to the executive off,
GERS there. The conditions there are
so various that II would be exceed
ingly difficult to prescribe any par
ticular conditions which would APP
ply to all cases. There Is diner
ence In the rainfall. for instance, of
from 10 inches to 800 inches a year
within short distance. There IL a
difference In temperature from IS
degrees to below freezing within a
few miles. There are differences OF
soil, differences In the character OF
the crops that can be raised In diff
ferent localities. differences In the
classes OF people in respect Of the
kinds Of land and the areas of landa
that they desire. The natives wish
certain lands and OF certain areas,
and the Portuguese others.
! must confess II was question in
my mind whether we should not par.
ticularize little more. For instance
on page 8, In line 20. the language
could be worded in this way:
And upon such terms of payment.
not extending beyond ten years. and
without interest, and residence not
less than Ave years. TO begin not later
, than the end OF the third year"
Something of that sort
"and cultivation to be not less than
nifty per cent Of the area OF the ara
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12
Ito Be Continued)
THE POWER OF A WILL

Hoax: There goes Mrs. Jimjones.
They say she married Jimjones to re-
form him and has succeeded by mere
force of will, Tomdix: hut she is
such frail little thing! How did
she manage It? Hoax; BY giving
him TO understand that II he didn't
brace up and do better she would will
all her money TO charity. l-
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12

[ble land. and public notice published
not less than thirty days In a news.
paper or newspapers OF general cir.
culation In the Territory"
There could be certain general lin
itations inserted, but to prescribe a
uniform set OF conditions would be
exceedingly disastrous. because the
circumstances differ
The Chairman-That is. a rigid
rule would not apply to the varied
conditions.
Governor Frear--No, sir. This IL
put In In the general terms of the
reclamation act.
The Chairman-lf you recommend
that the bill should be amended AS
you have Just now suggested. you
might go over It and indicate what
the amendments should be to meet
that view.
Senator Flint-Is It possible now
under the laws OF Hawaii to acquire
land without residing on It?
Governor Frear-It is, but not un-
der the prescribed homestead meth
DDS OF taking land. But the laws are
so loose In their provisions that n
person may acquire land without ro-
siding on 1t to any great extent. For
instance, he might spend his Sun
days on II for a couple OF years and
he would be very apt to get his land
under the decision OF the territorial
supreme court.
Punchbowl Lands
At the top OF the fourth page OF
Senate bill 1896 there is a special
provision which Ii not essential t.
the general purposes of the act. II
embodies the substance Of bill that
has been introduced In Congress,
believe. The idea is to give a pref
erence right of purchase at an alp.
praised value to persons who have
actually made their homes on Ger,
tain lands, particularly rs lessees o,
sublessees. This provision Is insert
ed here with special reference to q
large number OF Portuguese In the
suburbs OF Honolulu who have theil
homes generally on very small frac-
tion OF an acre held under a suitcase
OF public land. The idea is. when
the lease expires, which will be very
soon now. to give those persons Il
preference right to purchase their
homes at an appraised value. or
course. II they do not wish TO pur-
chase them. they will be disposed OF
otherwise.
The Chairman-That would seem
to be reasonable, / should think.
| Governor Frear--Then there are
natives in different portions OF the
islands who have lived all their lives
on half acre or acre and they are
liable 10 be dispossessed at any time.
This would enable them to purchase
their homes. Similar action has been
taken by Congress, l believe, in the
case of some lands on the mainland.
The next paragraph, beginning on
line u, page 4, is intended to limit
the area that may be acquired by one
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12

I The Chairman--Now, since you
speak Of It. recall that there is
some such system. never had any
occasion to give any attention to 1t.
1.-THE system OF drawing which you
contemplate would be similar To that
which we have here?
Governor Frear-Yes, that Is tho
idea.
The Chairman--But with our sys.
TEN the Government fixes the price,
does II not?
Governor Frear-Yes. and we
would do the same thing.
The price at which those who are
fortunate enough to be successful
drawers can take the property?
Governor Frear-Yes.
The Chairman-Is there any pro-
vision here for fixing the price of
this government land?
Governor Frear-The method act
ually used In Hawaii Is this: APP
praisers are appointed to fix the act
uot Sooh VI 'ho hSh
about 20 per cent OF that value is
taken for the purposes of home
steads. the other conditions OF resi-
dence and cultivation being supposed
to make up for the balance. the idea
being to encourage the small settler.
The Chairman-Who would pre-
scribe all these additional terms and
conditions?
Governor Frear-That would be
done by the commissioner, with the
approval OF the governor.
The Chairman-Under local legis-
lation?
Governor Frear-Well, our terri
torial legislature has no authority to
legislate on public-land matters.
This would be expected to be COM
plete, and to give that discretionary
authority to the commissioner there,
with the approval of the governor.
very much the same az II rests here
in the Secretary OF the Interior.
The Chairman-We could author
lee your legislature to legislate about
It. could we not?
Governor Frear--Oh, yes.
The Chairman-You mean simply
that in the organic act the legisla-
ture is precluded from legislating on
the subject?
Governor Frear-That is the pro,
vision now in the organic act.
The Chairman--So I understand.
Governor Frear-And We come ia
Congress now for an amendment OF
the act because we can not go to ouI
own legislature. On that point
wilfssay-
Power Of Legislature
The Chairman-Before you pass
from that. let me ask whether your
Legislature should not have author
ity to prescribe all these terms and
conditions rather than some individ'
ual, and should you not be relieved
of ths necessity of coming here about
all these details, to take up our time
regarding matters that are purely To-
cal and OF no concern to us? | am
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12


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Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-12

Hearing on bill to amend Organic
Act of Hawaii held by Senate Com
mittee. Senator Foraker chairman
New-York tribune., 1909-02-02
PROVIDENT LOAN MEETS
Trustees Gather in Nes0 Building for
the First Time.

Carving out the determination of the trustees
made some time ago. the annual meeting OF the
ProvIdent Loan Society was held yesterday after
noon in the new building at Fourth avenue and 18th
street The workrnen still in the building
which Will not be ready for permanent occupancy
before March l. but the elevator was piaced III
commission. some chairs and table were taken
to the third floor and the trustees informally
opened the building
The following trustees were reelected; John D
Kennedy. V Everit Macy, D. Q. Mils' FeFcy a
Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt James
Speyer the president. who on account or 2 oyIA"
making Il impossible for one man to hold that
Office more than three years in succession retired
IN favor Of Otto T Barnard. was elected treas
urer the place formerly held By MY bannaro:
Frank Tucker reelected Vice-presldeht anu
Mortimer 1. Schif was reelected secretary.
The report of Mr.. Speyer as president was par
ticularly interesting Il dealt with the Work oI
the society IN the first panic since It's orsarzalloH
IN 1891 following the recognition of She need for
some such form Of rn.-philanthropic endeavor in
The manic of 1888 Some Of the financial problems
of the last year the slower repayment OF ana
the increased demand for loans and the dlnicu4tS
Of disposr of the securities TO increase the cspl
tai funds.
In 1865 the number OF loans averaged nearly one
thousand every banking day, being 2ss,l47 in all
an increase over 1907 Of 15,102 To meet the ue-
rnands for more loans the maximum loan was de-
creased from $1,000 IN July, 1901, TO $50 II Dece
Der of that year. In April. 1908. the amount was
increased to $780, and has been gradually increased
to 500 It is stated that the trustees expect SUI
TO restore the old figure OF 1000 as the maximum
In 1905 SS.271,oOo loaned on pledges Oh PEI
soral property the average loan being SIT I74 Inc
year ended, however. with an outstanding Ioah osi
ance of $47N S5s which s7757S less than at the
end of 1907. The percentage Of unpaid loans IN
creased. resulting IN Increasing loss TO the So
cietv from the sale of collateral The number OF
loans outstanding at the end OF the year was l5Z
7ss as compared with 134 100 at the end of 1891
1.-The extent to which met the emergency Oh
the small borrower said the report, is SHOWN
nv the amount OF loans repaid in each month
hitch have r,1n only two weeks, which class
Of loans one-half Of per cent is charged The hs-
,reg varied from s4s6SS IN February to $lOszS4 IN
October ,z.--
Since the last report s656.0N per cent Ger e 1IS
~ contribution were sold leaving $4,000 unsold
ont Of an authorized issue Of $S.o0Oo0o.
The report said that the new building wouo Oe
a model for its purpose at a comparatively 10"
cost
New-York tribune., 1909-02-02
KETRAN TELLS METHOD.
Charge from 8 to 8 1-2 Per Cent In
tereSt on Notes.

Patrick j. Keiran. the former president OF the
Fidelity Funding Company. testified before Referee
Olney yesterday that in transactions with religious
institutions the company charged TO AZ per cent
interest norg ages and to Ss per cent interest
on notes The latter. he said. to cover the
cost OF premiums for life insurance policies. which
the company always insisted upon additional
security for loans
Referee OIaey asked for description of
actual transaction, and Keiran mentioned loan
to the ST. Josephat's congregation of Milwaukee,
They applied for a loan of S160OOO' he said land
We o KID the application and gave them imme
diately So OOO which took their notes These
notes we Immediately sold TO the Wisconsin Ma
tionaI Bank OF Milwaukee. Later we took q mort
gaze on the property, called In the notes. issued
own bonds on the mortgage which We deposited
with the Western Trust and Savings Bank, of Chi
cago, trustee.
Keiran said the company had no working capital
when he went into It, in 1906. but inside Of year,
he said It had $4,000. He testified that the COM
panv always insisted upon endowment insurance
pocies as security the extent of 20 per cent of
loans.
Referee Olney ordered briefs submitted OF
Wednesday, and later ne VIII give his decision
whether or not the company is amenabie TO the
be nkruptcy act
Thomas F. GiIroy state receiver. said after the
hearing that proceedings In the state court had
been postponed to Thursday, at 10 a. M, in his
chics No. q Broadway
New-York tribune., 1909-02-02
FOR BUFFALO BELT LINE
Made to p. S. Board for
Freight Road around Citg.

Albany, Feb. Application was formally made
to-day to the Public Service Commission, I'd Dis
trict by the Buffalo connecting railway for au-
thorty to build steam belt freight line around
Buffalo. taking in several towns in Erie County
The company has a capital OF 100000 and is the
successor OF the Niagara Transfer Railway Com
pany and the Buffalo, Lake Erie & Niagara Rail-
way Company Counsel for the company request
ed an early hearing.
The proposed road is opposed by the Frontier
Terminal Railway Company, which desires 10 build
over practically the same territory. The dispute
is now before the Appellate Division, &th De-
partment. the Frontier Terminal Railway Com
pany having applied for order directing the
Public Service Commission to issue to It certih-
cate OF authority to build its road
Authority to build the road was granted by the
former state Board OF Railroad Commissioners
some time ago to the Niagara Transfer Railway
Company and the Buffalo, Lake Erie & Niagara
Railway Company. but these decisions were set
aside by the Appellate Division, Sd Department
BECAUSE of the pending litigation the commission
may not hear the application until the courts
have nassed OF the action begun by the Frontier
Terminal Railway Company.
New-York tribune., 1909-02-02
GATES GETS JUDGMENT FOR s1s1,855
Morse, In Tombs, Surprised at Action, VIII
Try to Have Case Reopened

Judgment by default was directed by Justice Plat
eek in the Supreme Court yesterday in favor OF
John W Gates fl an action TO recover sl31 $50 SO On
a prornissory note from Charles W. Morse. who is
in the Tombs.
Gates's attorneys applied for Judgment OF the
pleadings, asserting that the answer served by
Morse was merely a general denial and based on
information and belief There was no appearance
for Morse.
The note executed by Morse on April D.
1907, and for S225.OO. payable to his own order
The note carried interest at per cent. and Morse
had deposited collateral security thirtyfve hun
dred shares of stock Of the American Ice Securities
Company. with authority 70 sell the came. Pay
nlents by Morse, according 70 Gates, reduced the
amount due October 8. 1863 TO $l3l355 9S Gates
says he is willing to return all the unsod securities
given for the note upon its payment
A representative OF Mr.. Morse said yesterday that
he was surprised at the action taken by Mr. Gates's
counsel as arrangements for settlement had been
practically completed. Steps, he said. would be
taken at TO hare the Judgment reopeGed Mr.
Morse expects to have the whole matter settled by
the end OF the present week. according to his reE
resentat1ye.
New-York tribune., 1909-02-02
CITY NEWS IN BRIEF.

Convicted on a charge of attempted larceny and
unlawful entry. Mr. and Mrs Arthur Daily alias
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett. who say they live
at No. l33 West 9Oth street. yesterday re-
manded by Justice Mayo, in General Sessions, until
Friday, to allow the probation officers make an
investigation. They were arrested January 30
on complaint of II. T Cartwright, clerk in a
drug store at No. 2OS5 Broadway. charged with
opening the nickel-in-the-sot telephone.
Felix Leibinger Will deliver lecture entitled
Austria and Its Beauties in the American
Museum of Natural History, nth street and Central
Park West Thursday evening, under the auspices
of the New York Academy OF Sciences, IN CO.
operation with the museum.
The committee on site and design OF the Fire
mems Memorial Fund Committee, which is made
up OF Henry ". Taft, Cornelius n. Bliss and
Isidor Straus. will hold a meeting in the near
future for the purpose of deciding q site for
the memorial for which $4,000 has been raised.
A public hearing win be given Thursday after
3 o'clock in the City Hall 10y the Board OF
Estimates committee the courthouse boards
report. That board reported in favor of the build
ing of the proposed new courthouse in Washington
Square