Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-19

Oh IefeFSalS OF judgments on triflal
and non-pre judicial feehniealities- The
governor condones such reyersais on
the part OF appellate courts and refers
TO the countrywide demand for tuc.-
cial reform. He recommends an in
crease in the authority Of juvenile
courts, penal remedies 20 prevent de-
seriion OF wives and children, and a
number OF minor changes in cours
procedure Of local importance. He re-
commends that the -Lahaina court ne
abolished and all terms OF the second
circuit held at Wailuku.
| HOMESTEADlNG.
This subject is given treatment at
great length by the governor. He
says:
Recognizing this as the most funda-
mental and difficult practical problem
affecting the general welfare. special
efforts have been made throughout my
administration to work out success
full solution. This has involved I'm
portant changes both, in the laws and
in administration. The many diff
culties arising from the smailness of
available areas and from climatic, to-
geographic, soil, pest, p0litica;, racia:,
financial, marketing and other condi-
lions. scarcely realizable without ex-
| perience. need not be enlarged on
here. They are such that the genu-
Inc citiZen-farmer Is put TO every dis
advantage in competition with the In
/ Iiustrious and frugal Oriental, the cor
poration Of large capital, and even the
exploiting citizen OF small means.
rrl.~~< a. ovorx. d{oe0ura n otrlanf m
demonstrating. every inducement TO &C
quire public land for speculation and
investment. The problem Is not mere
~ one between the small man and the
big man; it is q problem Of protecting
the small man who would be q real
homesteader against spectators and
/ investors, whether large or small.
whether well-intentioned or ill-inten-
toned. A disappointed Individual
seeker of public land, whether on the
pretense of demonstrating or frankly
Tor some other purposes. is apt TO
command sympathy on the part OF
many who take his protestations at
lace value or lose sight Of the public
interests by reason of their general
t:ty. The effort at solution OF the
problem, however, has proceeded on
the assumption that the people al
large may be depended on in the long
run to stand by policy based on the
interests Of real homesteaders and
the public welfare.
In the first place. since, directly and
indirectly, the limited nature of the
area is the most fundamental factor
! of a permanent nature in the problem,
steps have been taken TO conserve
and extend the area available for
homestead purposes, make II more
| Immediately available, and utilize
what there is to the best advantage.
Large areas are no longer sold for
other than demonstrating purposes;
nor are large country tracts suitable
for demonstrating any longer ex-
changed for small city tracts, though
| Of equal value. A beginning has been
made towards an increase in the avail
able area by the homesteading OF
private lands, certain corporations
having already conveyed to the terri
| tory a large tract Of superior hOme-
stealing land for this purpose. The
AREA which may be acquired by a
homesteader has been reduced to what
HE can properly handle and what is
sufficient for the support of family,
so that none of the land may be
wasted. While leases of large tracts
are still made, they in practice in
Ian cases still contain and In the case
of agricultural land now must contain
provisions permitting the withdrawal
of the land, for demonstrating pur-
poses upon the harvesting Of any
growing crop, or at any time in case
there is no growing crop. The sur
Eyeying and opening of sufficient lands
to meet, the demand for homesteads
! has been made possible by a proyis-
ion permitting the use OF the proceeds
| of sales and leases of public lands for
THAT purpose without special APP
preparations.
Again, the would-be real homestead
err is protected in various ways at the
Icutset in the acquisition Of home
stead Aliens, repeaters, and even
tcitizens who already have sufficient
Eother land to support themselves and
| their families are debarred from ap-
plying. Qualified applicants are no
longer put to the risk Of an auction
sale or the hardship of standing in
line. homesteads are disposed Of at
low definite valuations by drawings
in which everyone has an equal
chance. After an advertised drawing
open to all has been held, any lot not
taken, or taken and afterwards sur
rendered or forfeited, may be disposed
of at not less than the advertised
value upon application without further
advertisement, thus making 1t pos
sible for people to get homesteads
when they desire to do so and are in
La position to do so without having to
wait several months for further adyer-
/ tisement. Leased lands under culti-
walton are. SO far as practicable, sur
lveyed and opened for homesteads be-
fore the crops are harvested so that
the homesteaders may enter immedi-
ately after the harvesting and not
have to wait until a rattoon crop has
been ruined or the land has run to
! weeds.
Form Of Agreement
Then, too, the form of the agree
49, vyh; nh fhA hAr q.