The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-09-20

Mr.. Ashford asked how he would de-
termlne as between one applicant who
had red hair and another, black. Mr.
Tucker replied that the land Office could
not be run on that basis. He did not
ask a man his politics or determine by
the color of his hair. He did not be-
lieve, however, that a man who is a
clerk is farmer. He did not think a
man who is a fisherman would make
good farmer when fishing had been his
occupation all his life.
The particular advantage to the gov
eminent of the special agreement plan
was that it tied man to the soil for
definite period and received better
| assurances of what the homesteader in
tended doing to cultivate the land.
When Mr.. Ashford began to make in
quiries which called for conclusions of
law, Secretary Fisher stopped that line
of questioning peremptorily. He said
he did not think they were proper. The
Secretary said the question at issue was
whether the administration had the
| right to pick one or the other forms of
policy.
Assuming discretion is given, do
you consider it good policy for the
administration to refuse the right of
purchase planf" asked Mr.. Ashford
| "Yes.'
at is your opinion under the right
of purchase plan for the homesteader
to evade his obligations as to resi-
denceq"
| "Yes.'
"'And under the special agreement
plan that can be made so definite and
clear that the homesteader knows Just
what he has to do, and knows the con-
sequences of his failure to live up to
the provisions, his tendency is to COM
ply more fully with the special agree
ment clause than in the other case3"
fYes.n
'That being the ease you think the
general policy is wise to insist upoh
the special agreement plan with respect
to cane landsi''
"Under the special agreement plan
the homesteader has to cultivate fifty
to sixty percent, and under the right
of purchase only five per cent. The
special agreement plan calls for con-
tinuous cultivation" replied Mr..
Tucker.
Figuring 1t Out.
The Secretary then went into the
case with Mr.. Ashford to see how their
views compared on the question of per
centages, asking whether Mr.. Ashford
thought the homesteader should be re-
quired to cultivate continuously and
work up gradually to- a definite large
percentage.
Mr.. Ashford said he saw no objec-
ton if the legislature SO provided.
The Secretary replied that he thought
Mr.. Ashford had tendency in discuss
ing this phase to confound two things.
In his opinion it did not make any
difference whether it was so provided,
! if the Legislature gives the executive
discretion of adopting one or the other
forms. The question which faces the
administration is what you think is a
wise public policy.
In order to make it clear the Sec
cretary said they would have to assume
there is such discretion. If there is no
discretion and something had to be
done, that would be another question.
; He said for present purposes let it
be assumed that the legislature pres
ented several different forms, includ-
: ing the right of purchase, and invests
the executive with authority. to adopt
the special agreement plan if he de-
sures.
: "If you were the executive, Mr..
Ashford" asked the Secretary, "what
would you think about the government
requiring the homesteader to cultivate
the land continuously"
CONTINUED on Page F1ve.)