The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-09-16

With Hawaii matters:
Public Lands.
We heartily congratulate the Demo
ratio party i'm the gallant struggle
or such amendments to the Organic
Act in reference to public land laws
Is would be of some benefit and JUS
ice TO the plain common people We
ire no less proud OF the intelligence
displayed by the people in readily de-
Getting the hypocrisy so cleverly con-
,ealed in the land law amendments
by a Republican conference;
endorsed by a Republican legislature;
lpplauded by a Republican press; in
.roduced by a Republican Delegate
and advocated by a Republican Gov
sr, but so thoroughly reDudiated by
and amended to such an ex-
tent that but little of the original sec
ton as proposed remained.
The evidence and arguments pro-
duced by local Democrats before the
House Committee on the Territories
at Washington, d. G., resulted in very
many changes in the bill so advocated
by the Republicans in Hawaii; the
more important of which are as fol-
lows:
First-"No such exchange shall
be made except to acquire lands
directly for public uses"
Second - Whenever twenty
five or more persons, having the
qualifications of hOmesteaders,
shall make written application to
the commissioner Of public lands
for the opening Of agricultural
lands for settlement in any To-
cality or district, it shall be the
duty of said commissioner to pro.
coed expeditiously to survey and
open for entry agricultural lands,
etc"
Third-"In laying out any home
stead the commissioner Of public
lands shall include therein an
amount not exceeding eighty acres
in area, sufficient to support there
on an ordinary family"
Fourth-"AIl necessary expenses
for surveying and opening any
such lands for homesteads shall be
paid for out of any funds of the
Confidential f,..ngrtvr. I.rftvaI From,
the sale or lease of the public
lands, which funds are hereby
made available for such purposes"
These principal amendments ant
sundry others less important secured
solely by the Democrats in behalf o
the common people, carry with then
practical notification, of the ex
change and the fifteen year lease laws
and compel the commissioner to sur
yey a reasonable amount of desirable
agricultural lands and also pastora
lands in various parts Of the Territor!
for homestead purposes on or before
January first, 1911, and annually there
after.
We disapprove of any upset price
or any rate of interest being demand
ed from the homesteader and contenC
that he is just as much entitled to ;
free homestead in Hawaii as in The
Philippine Islands and on the main
land. We contend that five years o
actual residence upon a homestead il
sufficient to demonstrate the goot
faith of the homesteader. We still
insist upon the right of appeal from
rulings and decisions of local land Off
GERS to the land department of thu
United States and we pledge our can
didate for Delegate to Congress t
never cease in his eldeavors until tn
public land law of Hawaii is furthe
amended substantially as shown in II
r. FLAPS, introduced in the house O
Representatives at Washington, d. &
February 10, 1910, and locally know
as the Gambler Land Bill"
immigration.
We oppose the immigration policy o
the territorial government and assigl
the following as some of the principa
reasons therefor:
First-There is now a surplus of la
borers in this Territory, there bein
only about $4,000 employed on the su
gar plantations out OF a total populs
ton estimated at from 100000 to 1870
900, but few of which are other thai
laborers. If at the expiration of tw
years from this time there is found t.
be a shortage of laborers and our cit
zens are employed at good wages tn
Democratic party stands willing an,
ready to withdraw the objections W
now offer to assisted immigration.
Second-The changed condition
to be brought about by a more liberia
homestead law will induce farmers t
cultivate their own land, and tw
years will offer, a sufficient opportunit
for our public land officers to max