The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-11-13
HOMESTEAD NEEDS
WILL Be TOLD
TO LEGISLATORS
Refusal Of Administration To
Open Up Lands Under Law Is
Vital Question On Kauai and
Hawaii At This Time NIX.

winnie the visiting congressional
party il in the Hawaiian Islands II, Ia
likely that members will have their
attention called to the homesteading
laws as they affect the Territory and the
policy Of the present Territorial gov.
eminent in the handling Of the ques
tion. Inability on the part Of would
be homesteaders to got the governments
TO open lands which It is claimed
should be ct once made available for
entry Is practically certain to be called
to the attention Of the visitors. On
the other hand il is equally probable
that government officials will take the
opportunity TO set before the senators
and representative their side of the
contention. ..a -at.l"
Kauai Deeply Interested r IA
Recently the matter Of homestead
ing public lands has come in for much
attention on Kauai. A public mass
meeting was held under the auspices
of the chamber of commerce and the
question was further discussed and
resolutions were passed. The conten-
been proved 20 be not only possible
of success but Il considerable success
even in the face of the difficulties
which the territorial government has
placed in the way Of settlers. There,
IL not before, the chances are, the ma
tional legislators will hear something
Of the homestead laws as they apply
to the Territory and the policies Of the
present territorial government in deal
ing with the problem.
officials Disapprove Laws
The present administration of ter.
ritorial affairs has made II clear that
IL does not approve of the regulations
Of the present homesteading laws.
Even within the last few months the
commissioner of public lands went to
Washington to get changes in the law
such rs the administration desires, not.
withstanding that the Legislature re
fused to approve of such changes. Not
approving Of the law the local gov.
eminent has seen fit, SO far as IL has
been able, TO ignore provisions of that
law 80 far as IL could and lands for the
in accordance with the law are still
closed to demonstrating. Not only
are there instances of this on Kauai
but the Big Islanders can point to sew
eral. All Of the Islands are more OF
less affected by the stand.pat, do
nothing policy that has been continued
Lands are Valuable 49,. ..Fy, tse,
II is estimated that the public land
of the Territory are worth more thar
80, 100000. The administration elaimi
that under the present demonstrating
law the Territory win not realize whai
IL should and that hOmesteading ha
been failure anyway. The would b
! hOmesteaders point to the fact tina
the lands opened have not been Of tn,
best and most desirable type for agri
culture, that d spite this, homesteadinj
s a proved success, that if opened ant
homesteaded = the improvements and
the increased value will bring to thu
Territory in increased valuations anC
| higher taxes more than is secured
| through leasing and that even il tn,
| administration does not approve of thu
law, it is written ON the statute book
md is to be followed until II has beer
changed, even if leasing be considered
! oy officials more profitable.
Homesteading came in for consid
Grafton at the last session of the legis
lature in the form of resolution whicl
,skcd congress to amend the Organi,
Act so as to provide for a land com
mission and otherwise. This resolution
passed the senate and was killed il
he house. II was after this tina
Land Commissioner Rivenburgh tool
| he matter up in the national capital.
As the leases on public lands are ex
firing each year, the problem grow
more and more pressing so long as pres
mt policies are continued. ~