Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-30

cane CultlFdIlOn-Ha DSSn apPIleQ 10
demonstrating purposes. That is TO
say, the allegation made in the com
, plant was that at that time no actual
homestead had been established on
cane lands. Now, | wish YOU would
take up in your own way. perhaps in
connection with any general state.
ments you may wish to make as to
your policy and acts on the general
subject of demonstrating. Give me
your own explanation OF the facts,
whatever they are. You might as well
follow your own lines.
Governor: Well, | will take that up
right now.
Fisher: Just as you prefer. Wheth-
er you take it up now or at the end
| donh care. You, as | understand
came to the Territory as a boy? Your
father, how did he come here?
Governor: He came down here to
church, that is the American church.
Fisher: From where?
Governor: From California.
Fisher: What year was that?
Governor: In 1870. Arrived Christ.
mas morning, 1870.
Fisher: And you lived here ever
since, except when you were away at
school and on trips?
Governor: Yes, when was away at
college and law school.
Flsner: Did you practise law here
for time?
Governor: did. -.
Fisher: Then you were appointed
Governor: was then appointed
Circuit Judge by the Queen, then As
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court
by the Provisional Government, Their
| later Second Associate and First As
| sociate by the Republic and Chic
Justice by President Mckinley anC
again by President Roosevelt; also
l held other positions.
Fisher: Now. when were you ap
pointed Governor? ~.
Governor: l took office about q
month and a half after the appoint
ment; the inauguration took place
August Is, 1907.
Fisher: You were appointed at the
expiration of Governor Carter's term.
Governor: He resigned shortly be
fore his term expired.
Fisher: You we're appointed to fill
that vacancy? a..
Governor: 1t was a recess ap
pointment. When the Senate me-
again l was reappointed.
Fisher: Well, now, if you vii
take Up these matters. in such form
or order as you think best.
Interested in Problems.
Governor: Before | took office
had been much interested in the
homesteading problem in the Terri
tory and the feeling that | myself
might do something toward the solu
ton of that problem was one of the
principal reasons why was wilkins
to accept the appointment, which
did rather reluctantly. l at once be
gan a study of the, homestead cues
ton. First, adopted several poll
cies which had not been previously
followed--one was that l would moi
exchange large areas of country lanC
for small areas of city land, because
of the small areas of land available
in the Territory for homestead pur
poses. 81.
Even in the case of lands that
were for the time being supposed to
be incapable of cultivation those
might become available for that pur
pose in course of time by the con
struction of irrigation works, discoy
cry of new crops or otherwise. have
had only three exchanges of large
areas of land, in each case getting
much larger areas than was given and
getting lands that were far more
suitable for homestead purposes than
those that were conveyed by the gov.
eminent. After investigation the
subject for some time, Twas conyinc-
ed that there was need of radical
changes, both in the laws relating to
demonstrating and again in their adj
ministration. For instance, well, the
chief difficulty seemed to be that
there was every inducement both on
the part of the small people seeking
land and Oh the part of the large
landhoIders, particularly the planta-
lions, to use the homestead laws for
the purpose of transferring lands
IEOlu the government 10 OCloFS IOT
purposes other than genuine home
stealing.
After crystallizing my own views
on the subject to some extent, APP
pointed an Advisory Land Law Com
mission, partly for the purpose of
getting the benefit of their views
after an independent study of the
matter, and partly for the purpose of
ventilating these matters and edu-
eating the public up to the new ideas,
because l felt, among other things,
that had to get the support of the
public in order to carry out the
o. Commission.
Nabine Of Commission.
| appointed this commission from
the different elements in the COM
munity. For instance, | put on it
Mr.. w. A. Kinney, and Mr. A. w. Car
ter, who, | think. had the reputation
of being, if anything, more radical
on the homestead question than l was