Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-20
INDUSTRY
MUCH INTERESTED
IN LAND MEASURE
ChiIlingWorth Resolution Asks
for Land Board on Leases
and Homesteadinq

Members OF the territorial senate
yesterday afternoon went on record
for radical changes in the present
land laws when they voted L. to 3
TO adopt q lengthy resolution submit.
ted by President Charles +. Chilling
worth which petitions Congress for
amendments to the Organic Act
The resolution. which is said to be
backed by the governor and by island
planters. proposes to put land control
with a territorial board appointed by
the governor. This body OF men viii
determine what lands shall be set
aside for hemesteading and what shall
be leased on long terms to plantations,
such action being approved by the
land commissioner and the governor.
Other Bills Are Tabled
Other land bills before the senate
were tabled yesterday TO make action
consistent with the report OF the com.
mittee of the whole which had the
matter under Consideration. Senator
NJ. G. Paehecn SAT as chairman of the
committee and late In the afternoon,
following a long debate, rose to re-
port the vote IL the meetihg 10 the
senate proper.
Much Of thu discussion yesterday
centered about the proper length OF
leases. the majority OF the senator's
seeming to feel mat the longer lease
ran the more q plantation was willing
to pay for 4.
Chillingworth Yentured tho opinion
that short leases were Of little advan-
tage, that they we're rather OF disad-
vantage, In that they allow only one
company to bid on land and thus elm
mate competition Longer leases
would bring In lids fIca other com
panies than those situated Eear the
land.
Senator Shinsie, who EXPRESSED Ia
vcr toward the resolution now In Con.
gress fathered by Kuhio, whereby the
legislature would be given control OK
public lands, thought that % years for
a lease was too long. lie proposed
10 years instead and so moved.
Must Warrant Large Expenditures
Senator Baldwin admitted that the
25-year lease might be long, but con-
sidered the 15-year lease too short
and was willing 10 split the difference
at 20 years a ahoster neriod, did not,
warrant costly investments.
TO prove BaldHin's point Senator
Coney spoke Of certain mills in the
territory whose leases are about to
rum out and who 40 not dare to make
further expenditures until they know
what DISPOSITION will DC made Of their
land. Baldwin's 20-yearY amendment
finally carried.
Pacneco Voices Opposition
Paeheco expressed opposition to the
resolution, which. he declared, was
backward step. II cuftailed the eff
forts and struggles OF years to build up
an independent farming ! community
and tended towafd the felidal system
OF old.
Pacheco put the n,tainn which car
ried as already stated and Senator
Baldwin then moved tc liable his own
amendment which provided that home
steaders might take out peases for 999
wears At ner tent rental, also In
creasiag the allawancet 70 so acres OF
agricultural lands and $50 acres pas
torai. The motion to liable carried
4 similar tfll from the house was
tabled House concurrent resolution
10. giving land control Il the legtsIa-
t,irs. was similarly treated by a 10 to
= 4