Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-17
AGAINST
HOMESTEADBILL
Sent 1OCAPITAL
Continued from Page II

Continued from Page u
to the bin now in Washington. but
the house defeated the resolution.
His letter asks that no action be
taken on the bin until the farmers Of
Hawaii are heard from.
The letter says:
Chairman, Committee on Territories,
House OF Representatives.
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Much to my establishment l have
just learned from a newspaper that
the Delegate from Hawaii has intro
duced a bill, House Bill 4722, concern
ing the public land Of Hawaii, and
that the Commissioner Of Public
Lands, Hon. B. G. Rivenburgh, has
appeared before the Committee to
advocate the passage of the bill.
mo information concerning the bill
has, before this time, been given in
the papers here. and wish to ask
your committee not to take favorable
action on II until copies can be gotten
here and some expression Of opinion
be sent you from the plain farmers
Of the islands who are most vitality
interested in this matter.
From the newspaper reports the
provisions of this bin seem to be much
the same as those Of Senate Concur
rent Resolution No. IA Of the 1917
Session Of the Legislature of Hawaii,
which was defeated by the House of
Representatives This resolution we
plain farmers believed to be thoroly
bad, and a subterfuge on the part OF
the sugar interests here to defeat
legitimate demonstrating. The same
Senate that passed Il defeated every
measure advanced by the farmers and
passed by the House looking to the
furthering Of legitimate demonstrating
and small farming In. the Territory.
! refer particularly TO our legislatures
H. B. "a, The Farm Loan Act for
Hawaii, and II B. 12S, providing for
Homestead Lease with Rental.
'Tn our last Legislature the House
represented the people, the Senate
was sugar controlled. The House re.
fused to concur In the Senate Resolu
ton referred to, and the appearances
are that the sugar people have car
ried their efforts to the national CAPT.
tol very quietly hoping to gain their
point there before we realized what
they were about.
e I'VE realize the evils that have
taken place In demonstrating here,
There may be some need for change
In the law, tho strict enforcement
Of the law as 1t exists would 60
long way towards discouraging fake"
Understanding. We thought q change
was needed and advocated II. B. 12S,
referred to above, which the Senate
killed. Under this bin the govern
ment wouid always retain title, the
homesteader must continuously reside
on the homestead, and the government
would receiFe ~ perpetual rental Of
per cent q tie value or the land.
Such q method ~ honfesteading would
protect the government fully from
both the sugar interests and the fake
homesteader, and would give the legit-
innate hume1kendeE etefy possible
chance. The method used, in New
Zealand IL very similar to this, and
has been succesSfu1 there, But any
change In the law which would take
the power 70 require the opening up
Fcf the land out Of the hands Of the
people, where tt now IL under that
clause OF the ofganie Act which be-
gins, Whenever twenty-five or more
persons would be calamity TO the
Americanixation OF the islands, for
one Of the greatest aids to that Am.
ericanization will be the establishment
Of Q contented and prosperous rural
citizen population.
I'VE ask delay until We can get
copies Of H. B. 4722, and can forward
you an expression Of opinion from the
farmers about 4" !
Rlvenhurgh Denies tie q "Susar
Move"
Against the statements made By
Moore IL the emphatic declaration Of
Commissioners Riyenburgh In WASH
ingfon that the changes asked are to
protect bona fide homesteaders and
preserkS the government land. He
specifically denied that the amend
ments are for the sake Of the planta.