The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-03-18

40 amend the laws under which Ra.I
wall has been governed for ten years
~ to meet present conditions. These
amendments provide for an increase Of
the salary OF the governor from $4,000
70 $4,000 n year of members Of the
legislature from 5000 TO $1,000 n year,
Of The judges Of the supreme court from
$4,000 To $4,000 for the chief justice, and
from $4,000 to $4,000 for the associate
Justices, and the circuit Judges from
$4,000 TO $4,000 a year.
The governor in his presentation and
argument for the bill said that the ex.
pense Of living in Hawaii is from %
per cent to 80 per cent greater than on
the mainland; that if the salary of the
members of the legislature was made
$1,000 higher class Of men could be
secured TO represent the people; that the
salaries of the judges were insufficient,
as was demonstrated by the fact that
two Of them had resigned to return to
| the practice of the law within the last
year.
Another amendment relates to the
creation of debts by the Territory and
its subdivisions and places restrictions
the same time it permits five-thrty-
year bonds to be issued instead of FIVE
| fifteen, because with thirty-year bond
the government indebtedness which is
| about coming due can be refunded un.
der much better terms. The public debt
of the Territory is $3,959,000, of which
81 100000 is due now and another mil
lion becomes due next January, and this
amount must be refunded.
The most important part of this
amendment relates to the disposal of
the public lands. There remain of
these lands about 100000 acres, but
only about Is per cent can be made
agricultural and productive; that is,
about 100000 acres. The land laws are
those which existed under the republic,
and have not been changed since the
annexation. The principal object of
the present amendment is to correct the
abuses which frequently occurred un-
der the present laws and to place re-
strictions which will prevent the ac-
QUESTION and exploitation of public
lands by capitalists and corporations.
Hawaii needs a permanent population
of homesteaders. At present public
lands can be disposed of by the land
commissioner with the consent of the
Governor. 1t is proposed now to have
a commission appointed by the Cover
nor, and their approval shall be neces-
sary for the leasing, exchange, and
sale of lands other than for home
steads, and their action shall be by
two-t thirds vote and the governor APP
prevail. There has been a great deal
of fake homesteading. A capitalist or
corporation desiring to secure an ex-
tensive tract would have the farms,
which are restricted in some of the
Islands to 20 acres and in others to so
acres, taken up one after another and
| conveyed to himself or to itself. In
the proposed bill this is rendered i'm
possible. The owner is prohibited from
mortgaging or leasing the land until
after he secures his patent, and then
| not to a corporation, or to an individual
already holding more than so acres. If
person has already one plot of so
acres he can not secure another. 1t is
| hoped that with board of commission
ers, acting in conjunction with the Gov
| ernor and the land commissioner, this
invaluable possession of the territorial
government may be so administered as
to secure enterprising and energetic
homesteaders who will become the per-
manent citizens of the Islands and cul-
| tivators of their farms, and also to de-
rive for the government treasury from
these lands large source of revenue.
! Mr.. President, in con- idering this
| bill we must remember how important
to us is the continued prosperity of the
| Hawaiian Islands We must take into
consideration the development and
progress which they have made prac
tically under their own overnment since
annexation to the United States. We
must bear in mind that to a remark
able degree, in fact, to degree quite
equal to any of our States, the govern
ment of the Islands has been intelli-
ent and progressive. We must bear in
mind that, without burdening their peo-
pie, they have devised a system of To-
cal taxation under which they have
spent vast sums on public works. build
ings, and education, and that there is
a consensus of opinion among those who
are best informed that the administra-
ton of these funds has been honest
and judicious. Under all the conditions,
i think they are entitled to this legis-
lation, which has received the approval
of the secretary of the interior and Of
every organ of public opinion, official
and unofficial, in the Territory.
Mr.. Clark of Wyoming. 1 am op-
posed to this legislation, so far as it re-
lates to the part of the bill beginning
with the proviso in line 6, on page A.
1t is not my belief that the Govern
ment of the United States ought to au-
thorize any of the Territories to ex-
tend the territorial aid to private or
corporate enterprises, either by way of
loaning them money or guaranteeing
their Indebtedness. l am exceedingly
anxious that this bill shall go through
in its main features, because / believe
/ realize as much as one can, with such
observation as i have been able to
give it, the necessity of many parts of
the bill, but this particular section, l
believe, ought not to be enacted into
law.
Mr.. Fletcher. submit, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that this advance in the pay of