The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-04

the salaries of the Governor. the secTe-
tary, chief and associate justices, judges
of the circuit court, United States dis.
triet attorney, and United States
marshal; and section 9, legaHzing nat
publications by the circuit court prlor
to the passage Of the naturalization act.
This concluded the work on the bill,
except as to section ), amending the
land laws.
A Fruitless Squabble.
The members then INDUCED in a long
and fruitless squabble as TO whether or
not the Governor should be asked TO
address the committee on the proposed
amendments to the land laws. Some
thought be should; some thought ne
shouldn I, Some were of the opinion
that if the Governor were asked TO talk,
the general public ought to be given a
chance to be heard; some thought no
body ought to be heard. Motions were
made to have public meeting tonight,
this morning, last night, and no time
at all, Finally, after fussing about 1t
for an hour or so, Castro was despatch
ed to get the Governor-and came back
a few minutes later and reported that
His ExceIlency had gone to attend a
celebration in honor of the birthday of
the Emperor of Japan. The committee
gave it up and rose-but not until after
Kaniho, the Cannon Ball of Kohala, the
Big Kahuna, had improved the shining
opportunity to make a speech, IN which
he said nothing, as usual.
After the house had been called to
order, Castro s joint resolution to create
a commission on advances to home
steaders passed second reading. The
house then took its recess until two
o clock.
Governor Explains.
At the afternoon session Governor
Frear was on hand, and as soon as the
house had gone into committee of the
whole, and taken up the land law
amendments, he explained in simple
words of one syllable the purport Of
the proposed amendments. He went
through the bill paragraph by para
graph.
Regarding the paragraph which pro-
vides that those who have lived ten
years or more on public land shall be
given the preference for acquiring title
to it, Sheldon wanted to know if five
years residence would not be enough.
The Governor replied that that was his
original idea. but the conference had
changed the figure to ten. He thought
five years residence would be plenty,
the provision being primarily intended,
of course, to give the Portuguese on
Pnnchbowl opportunity to acquire title
to the lands which they have beer
occupying so long as subtenants. How
ever, he said, there are Hawaiians scat
tered throughout the Territory who are
living on government land who will
also benefit by that provision in the
bill.
After Governor Frear had finished
his explanation and been excused, Ka-
leiopu moved to amend paragraph three
so as to cut out the provision for the
forfeiture of all rights on noncompi-
ance with the terms of certificates,
leases or agreements. Rice offered an
amendment, strike out the words
"work forfeiture of all rights there
under and. The amendment was car
ried.
Rice moved that the first, second and
the third paragraph as amended pass.
This carried without opposition.
The Technical Alfonso.
Alfonso offered a grammatical and
purely technical amendment to para
graph four. Rice, Alfonso and others
sguabbled over slis as if it were really
important. A speech by Douthitt set
tied the question and "may' became
"shall. = Paragraph four passed as
amended.
Sheldon Amends.
Sheldon moved to amend paragraph
six, providing for giving preference in
demonstrating to persons who have for
ten years resided on public lands, by
changing "ten'' to Z" five,' in other
words, giving the preference to persons
who have for FIVE years resided on the
land. This, of course, affects principal
ly the Portuguese on Punchbowl who
are living on government land subleased
TO them. The amendment was adopted.
May and "shall.''
Alfonso moved to change another
"may" to "shall.'
Rice further amended to change "per-
SON. to "citizen, so as to bar any
hPhN'ttHchS Ll'hh piSlCiSHSC 1iShiS 1uC
citizen should have this preference
right, he said, but never the alien.
Alfonso saw he was cornered and
withdrew his amendment. Rice s WASH t
seconded and the paragraph passed as
amended by Sheldon.
The next paragraph, in reference to
churches. Sheldon moved to amend by
substituting fve' for "ten' for the
length of time the church land must
have been occupied to be patented.
Carried.
Paragraph s, relating to sales or ex-
changes of public lands exceeding forty
acres in area or $4,000 in value, passed
as in the bill. though contest over it
had been anticipated.
Assisting Homesteaders.
Reverting to the first paragraph.
Douthitt suggested that the legislature
be authorized to negotiate a loan to as
sist homesteaders, in conformity with
Castro's joint resolution to create
commission to assist homesteaders.
Castro thought it would be wise to
have something in tho bin to enable the
Territory to develop natural resources.
But he would prefer, he said. to pass
the amendment for a day. so he could
1a+aru,ipa yhpt her or NOT tho oop