The Hawaiian star., 1910-04-07
AMENDING ORGANIC
ACT OF HAWAII.
Continued FISm Page One.)

statute. This is accomplished by in-
serting in section 5 of the organic act
the words
Including laws carrying general
appropriations"
Since Hawaii pays ABOUT S1,4O0 900
into the Federal Treasury each year,
the justice of this amendment is ap-
parent.
The proviso that certain enumerat-
ed statutes shall not apply to Hawaii
is inserted in order to remove am
biguity, the subjects covered by those
general statutes, relating to the other
Territories, having been specifically
covered by special provisions in the
organic act of the Territory of Ha-
waii.
The amendment in line 12, page 2,
increases the salaries of members Of
the legislature from 5000 to $780,
The bill originally proposed a sal
ary of $1,000 for each regular ses-
sion and 5000 additional for any spe-
cial session. The amendment pro-
posed will leave the salary for re-
gular sessions at $500.
Legislative salaries in Hawaii are
paid by territorial funds, and the in
crease in salary is favored by the
taxpayers as tending to secure the
services of the most suitable citizens
in the legislature.
Your committee believes that the
increase as above amended would be
for the best interests of the Terri
tory.
Legislative salaries in the United
States vary widely. Many of the
States, and the two other Territories.
have per diem payment of from SO
to $6 per day. Where session pay
ments are made, they vary from $500
in Connecticut to $3.50 in Iowa, $3.50
in Massachusetts, 1920 in Ohio, and
1900 each in Pennsylvania and New
York.
The cost of living and travel in Ha-
waii is higher than in any State in
the Union, and the increase is neces-
sary in order to enable men of small
means to accept places in the legis-
lature.
Section of the bill adds to the Or
iginal section So of the organic act
the words whether such assessments
are made by the Territory or the sub
division or subdivisions" in lines 16
to IS, on page 8, to enable counties to
issue bonds for public improvements.
The section makes no Changes in
the existing Limitation of indebted
ness. but extends the possible term
of bonds from fifteen to thirty years.
The proviso at the end of section
makes a proper authorization for
the condemnation of rights of way
for irrigation works.
Section of the bill, amending Sec
tion 73 of the Organic Act.
This amends the land laws of Ha-
waii and is the most important part
of the bill.
The joint resolution annexing Ha-
waii to the United States provided ia
general that the laws of the United
States should not apply to the pub
lie lands of Hawaii, but that Congress
should, with a few amendments,
lands, and that the revenues there
from should be used for public pur-
poses in Hawaii. In conformity with
this provision Congress provided IN
the organic act establishing the Ter.
ritory that the land laws of Hawaii
should, with a few amendments
continue in force. Accordingly the
public lands of Hawaii are now ad-
ministered by territorial officers un-
der the former land laws of Hawaii
Homesteading the public lands Of
Hawaii is an inherently difficult pro
blem, due to the physical features Ui
the land, which is cut up by deeI
gulches. 1t is further complicated by
the great differences in the soils and
by the tremendous variation in rain
fall which ranges from 10 inches t.
$50 inches per annum in different
sections Of the islands These pro.
blems, added to that of transporta'
tion, make it absolutely necessary
that the land commissioner should
exercise discretion in laying ou
homestead plats, both in determining
the proper area and also the proper
division between good agriculture
land and pastoral lands adjoining.
A considerable amount of public
land in Hawaii is already under cul