The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-06-29
TERRITORIAL Immigration
BUREAU IS EXONERATED

ledge of the fact that the place was a
reservation, could not be successfully
maintained, and in case conviction, un-
questionably a court would take into
consideration the fact that proper no.
tice had been given. 1t is particular
ly and peculiarly desirable that the
law relative to these trespasses shall
fbe vigorously and vigorously enforced.
Our tropical climate, our cosmopolitan
population, and the arrival of many
aliens from countries where tropical
diseases may be prevalent, renders it
necessary from a health standpoint,
The work of the United States in mak-
ing our islands the stronghold, rem
ders it necessary that the same close
observations of the law relative to mi
litary reservations be maintained.
ASSAULT AND BATTERY.
In the one case of assault and bat.
terry which we have had to consider, Il
came to our attention that the county
officials, in trying to make an investi-
cation and arrest on board a United
States Army transport, did not receive
the cooperation of the officers in con-
troll which was necessary for the pro-
per enforcement of the law In view
of the fact that the Territorial officials
have ever held themselves in readiness
to render every assistance to the off.
GERS on board these transports, as well
as on board of warships, to the end
that military and naval discipline may
be properly observed; to the end =
deserters from the vessels may be re
turned; and to the end that all re-
quests of such officers are complied
with, we do not hesitate to say that we
believe. in the particular case which
we investigated. very scant courtesy
was shown the county officials. The
regulations permit one of these officers
to refuse to give up a man under his
charge only when satisfied that he will
not receive Justice in the local courts
No such charge has ever been made.
nor could it be successfully made, as
to the courts in Honolulu.
Peonage and Condition of Russian
Laborers.
AT tba c,,ouaotio,, Of TTni+od c+o4oc
District Attorney Breckons, and in
response to inquiries made by the De-
partment of Justice at Washington,
we have investigated the charge made
by certain socialistic and labor organs
in the United States, that Russians
lately brought into this Territory were
held in a condition of peonage, and
were in most distressed circum-
stances.
After careful investigation we found
that the condition of those Russians
who have gone to work, either in
towns or in the plantations, was sup
erior to anything they had experienced
in Siberia or Manchuria, whence they
came; that most Of them were salts
fed and that not one Of those we
saw wished to be sent back to his
former home A committee Of this
grand jury met Russian immigrants
arriving from the Orient, before they
had had an opportunity to be com
municated with by local malcontents,
and the promises made them in Siberia
agreed in all substantial points with
conditions existing in this Territory.
Nowhere on the plantations could q
trace of existing peonage be found ..
We ascertained, however, that the ru-
NOR that peonage did exist had been
created among some of the local socia-
lists through exaggerated and mislead'
ing statements made to them by a
local attorney in regard to practices
of the Territorial tax collectors. II
has always been the custom in this
Territory to collect the poll tax from
passengers of all nationalities before
they are boarding a steamer, and to
try to detain them or their baggage II
the paymentof the tax is refused. The
employers have not instigated this
custom, nor have they ever directly
benefited thereby.
In closing our report, we beg to sub