The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-10-04

the most important features OF the
homestead ease there. and asked that
diligent search be made for the letter
rs he would like 30 see tho handwrt.
ing.
MIR. Ashford stated that since return
ing from Hawaii he had received n let.
ter from member Of that association.
who declared that Hewitt is stil OK.
trcmely doubtful ms TO his ever having
written such letter or document and
cannot admit he wrote IL, and could not
be convinced unless the letter is pro.
dueed.
Secretary Fisher sharply replied that
there was no occasion for imputing any
sinister motive for its non-appcaranco.
+" You will concede that Senator Hewitt
recollects the general transaction, but
he was then acting on behalf of the
plantation, although he was member
Of the association. Ny impression from
the testimony at Waialua is distinct
that Senator Hewitt sent such com
munieation here. He may have acted
entirely on his own responsibility and 10
may have been his own suggestion. AL
though | must confess IL looks more sig.
nificant, more important, that the min.
utes from which this document pur-
ports to have been taken, have been
burned or lost, yet Mr.. Cooper states
he cannot find the document. The com.
munication appears to have been sent to
Judge Cooper and at that time it pur-
ported to have been an extract from
the minutes of the association.
81 think not, Mr.. Secretary, if YOU
will look on page sou said Mr.. Ash
ford. "The heading is memorandum of
agreement arrived at at meeting of
the Thompson Settlement Association. -
''There is reference to the same by
the secretary of the association, sug-
gested the Governor.
cit does corrohorate the statement
that there was document of some ma
ture," said the Secretary. cit would
help if that document could be found.
/ would like to see the handwriting.
"We were given to understand that
Mr.. Ivers had that in his possession, ~
said Mr.. Ashford.
81 did not get any such impression, I"
returned the Secretary. 81 thought it
was in the possession of Judge Cooper. y
"The letter from the secretary refers
to this letter as part of the minutes. "
cit is quite important we see the
document if it can be found" said the
Secretary.
Homestead Matters Again.
The Governor then returned to the
homesteading proposition and the num-
Der of homesteads taken up. One of the
matters referred to in the complaint
was that of the Kaunamano homesteads.
The trouble in that connection occurred
before the Governor took Office. After
he took Office the contract between the
homesteaders and plantation was pre-
sented for approval of the government,
but the government declined, on the
ground that it was contrary to the
spirit of the homestead laws. Another
agreement was entered into without the
Knowledge of the Governor.
The Governor said there was not
much more to be said, except that when
the applications were made for patents
the government, after investigating the
matter, came to the conclusion that the
homesteaders were not entitled to them,
that they had not complied with the
provisions of the homestead law,
whether that conclusion was correct OF
not.
1t was decided to have one or two
test cases, largely for the educative
effect the cases might have on prospec
tive homesteaders. The amendments OF
the land laws had been passed. There
was widely prevailing sentiment that
the homestead laws were merely artif
cial arrangements for giving out lands
lin small tracts and that it was iustit
able to take these tracts whether they
intended to make their permanent
homes on them or not. 1t was very de
sirable, especially in starting, to have
this sentiment eradicated as far as
possible. The test cases were brought
on the other side of the Island of Ha
wall.
The government was particularly len
lent with the Kaunumano homesteaders
In the first place it did not put them tt
the expense OF the litigation and in the
second place it did not undertake to en-
force forfeiture. 1t left the way oper
to give them another chance. AS wa'
brought out by the testimony of Mr.. lr
win Mt Hilo, the Governor said he haC
decided, in general way, to give those
who wished to make good an opportun
ity TO do so, while those who did moi
want to fulfill the conditions made
necessary by the supreme court decision
were to be given the chance to trans
fer their lands and so recover theil
money.
-'Fake" Homesteaders.
Mr.. Ashford said he was of the opin
ion the Governor had covered the sit
uation. He wanted to ask, however
about Doctor Thompson IS statement. He
believed the Governor had acted upon
the Kaunamano homesteads and spoke
of the homesteaders only upon hearsay
of others and not upon his own knowl
ledge. 4@The Governor has called them
fake homesteaders,' said Mr.. Ash
ford. "I would like to ask the Cover
nor if he got his idea of taking from
other parties. z"
"I relied upon documentary evi.
dence," responded the Governor, "and
upon statements given to me as having
been made concerning the homesteaders
DIR. Victor Clark told me Doctor Thomp'
son had told him about them upon one
occasion. I understand that Doctor
Thompson made this statement to Doe
tor Clark and Ray Stannard Baker also.
/ also depended upon my own observa-
itions. / went over there and went over
all these lands / also conyersed with