Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-03
RIGHTS
BILL UP To
congress

That the territory should not be
called upon to, appropriate the half
million dollars needed TO purchase tpa
private fishing tights in Hawaii, but
that, inasmuch as the acquisition OF
such rights would be of benefit to the
whole United States, Congress should
he asked To set aside that money is
the gist of the report of the senate
judiciary committee en- ne senate
kill, No. 9, which provides for such
g purchase. The report OF the judi
Ciary committee says in part:
THE matter of acquiring ali pri-
Vate fishing rights in tie sea waters
of Hawaii was brought before the last
Legislature fsee house concurrent, resp
luton No. 26), and it was then resolv-
ed that the delegate from Hawaii to
the congress Of the United states be
requested TO present to and advocate
in the congress of the United States
the enactment of appropriate legisJa-
ton for the purpose of acquiring such
private fishing rights, and the treas
urer of the Territory was instructed
TO prepare and forward TO tie Dele
gate a list Of all such sea fisheries,
able value of each il order that the
delegate might prepare and Introduce
to the congress the necessary legisla-
ton. Pursuant to this resolution the
treasurer sent cut q NUMBER OF notices
to the owners of such of these private
fishing rights as have been establish
ed, requesting them to pace value
upon the same, but except in a very
few cases he has failed TO receive re-
sponses, and in spite of conscientious
efforts in that behalf has never been
in a position to furnish the delegate
with the necessary data"
The report then quotes the section
Of the organic. act mo. 96), which
provides for the. establishment and
the condemnation of this private fish
ing rights and goes on to say:
From the foregoing it is seen that
Congress has provided for the pay
ment of compensation not otherwise
appropriated. 1t is believed that the
value of these fishing rights will total
at least $500,000.00 Further, the pros
pective revenue of the Territory for
the next biennial period is practically
covered by the estimates sent in by the
governor of the necessary expenses for
conducting of the government during
the biennial period. If, therefore, this
appropriation by Congress is to be
held prior claim against the revenues
of the territory the government will
face q deficit as soon as these con-
domination suits are tried and judy
ments entered. If, on the other hand,
II Is considered that this appropriation
ade by Congress is a subsequent ap-
preparation to that of the legislature
for current expenses, etc, then there
will not be money in the treasury to
meet the payments for these fishing
rights.
This burden has been placed upon
the territory not for the benefit of the
citizens of the territory, but for the
benefit of the citizens of the United
States generally. and since that is so
It does seem that the congress of the
United States. should provide other
wise than out of the revenues of the
territory for the large sum of money
necessary to make compensation to
the private owners of the sea fisheries
tn be SO condemned. and especially is
this so when every dollar of revenues
of the territory is required for the
actual expenses of the government in
the territory
Your committee therefore has pre-
nared concurrent resolution putting
the matter of the condemnation and
payment of compensation for these
private fishing rights in such shape
that it can be placed before the con
gress of the United States for imme-
diate action.
For the reasons above given your
committee therefore recommends that
senate bill No. 3 be laid on the table,
and that the concurrent resolution
herewith submitted be passed"