Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-28
Matter of Issue Of Patent is
Still Being Investigated;
Company's Case Strong


Lower quotations from the main
land on Honolulu Consolidated OH
stock last week occasioned many sur.
misses here as to the cause and not a
few concluded that there must De
some news adverse TO an early issu-
ance OF patents on the land enamnat.
ing from Washington. A cable to a
correspondent OF the Star Bulletin at
the capital city brought the reply
that there were no new developments
evidenced; that both Secretary Dan
iels ana his confidential secretary
We're absent, but that inquiry at the
land office brought the reply that the
situation was unchanged, patents were
not issued, but the matter was still
under consideration.
The report upon the hearing on leas-
ing Of oil lands before the committee
on public lands of the senate gives
some information On the status Aof
Honolulu Oil Company lands, which
nay be quoted in part Senator
Works said that he wanted to ask
about one particular entry, which, be
had understood. was about ready for
patent, the Honolulu Oil Company,
and asked whether Secretary Daniels
had investigated this and II 50
whether he had had anything to do
with the holding up of the entry.
Daniels Explains "Holdup'
Secretary Daniels replied that he
had investigated it; that as soon as
he had heard of the decision in that
case he requested the secretary Of
the interior TO give hearing; that
the secretary of the interior and at
torney general had discussed the mat
ter and the latter gave the legal opin-
ion that the Honolulu case had not
been diligently prosecuted. The CON-
missioner of the land office rendered
a decision to that effect and the de-
partment of justice and navy depart.
ment felt that the decision opened
up a new question as to whether the
building of pipe lines and of roads to
disconnected and separate claims con
stituted such discovery work as u
entitle to patent
Admits Discoveries Made
To the question as to whether oil
discoveries had not already been
made, Daniels replied. In some
places. Our position was that II YOU
open the door and permit man to
get a patent because he has built a
road and because he has made pipe
Hines you open wide the door when it
is left to him alone to determine how
far the line should go.
Daniels admitted that the matter
had been held up at his request and
that he understood an opinion had
been previously rendered by the conf
missioner of the general land office
and the land had been clear listed.
All that was necessary was to issue
the patent unless his own department
was able to convince the land com
missioner that mistake had been
made.
Decision Is Allie One
Daniels said that while the opinion
of the attorney general was very
pronounced on the point Of the com,
pany not having made its case, the
decision of the land commission was
very able one and did say that
the building of roads and laying OF
pipe lines to separate oil fields was
diligent prosecution.
The decision of the land office of
the department of the interior clear
listing for patents the properties Of
the Honolulu Oil Company was then
read into the Tocrds of the hearing.