The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-10

AN SVhihinblOuef hiNeuDtiBh w
lieves that the Japanese Of Hawaii are
law-abiding and thrifty, that the Chi.
nese make fine citizens and that the
Portuguese are good agricnlturists and
make good homesteaders Thiss deyel.
oped in the course Of hearing before
the committee ON Territories of the
house at Washington on the proposed
amendment to the Organic Act to do
away with the twenty-five citizen man,
datory clause in the opening up of gov
ernment land for homestead.
Before leaving Honolulu, Commission
er Rivenburgh strennously denied any
intention whatever of visiting Wash
ington, but At the hearing before the
committee, Judge Houston, the chair
man announced that 1--WE have with
MS Mr. Rivenbufgh, the land commits.
sioncr Of the Islands, who has come
here on behalf Of this measure.D The
chairman also explained that the pro
posed amendment sis an emergency
matter because of the expiration Of a
lot Of leases. .
The following is a portion Of the
published report of the hearing:
The Chairman. Tell us what class
Of people makes up your homesteaders
now or what class is more inclined to
take up homesteads and live upon theme
Mr.. Riyenburgh. Amongst the Portu-
guese i think you will find the home
steaders who are actually living on and
cultiyating the land. They are the old
type of Portuguese, who came to the
island as laboTers years ago. A
The Chairman. You spoke of Japa-
nese entering some of these lands, and
you stated that they would become
bona flde homesteadeTs. =, a.
Mr.. Rivenburgh. The young Japa.
nese are entering upon the land as fast
az they can, and undoubtedly they will
stay upon it. 81 $50 . n
The Chairman. What sort of home
steaders or citizens do they makef
Mr.. Riyenburgh. IA to their citizen
ship, 1 do not know am not pre-.
pared toaspeak of that, but the Japa.
nese, as. a race are O law abiding peO-
pie. They do not give any trouble.
The Chairman. Are they industriousi
Mr.. Rivenbufgh. They are very in.
dustrious, and naturally these young
Japanese citizens have parents who
have connections with Japanese labor.
ers, and 1t is very easy for them to
get labor. They live very cheaply, and
they can live and raise their families
much more cheaply than any other citi-
zens. ~. - = ...' >. - NJ =
The Chairman. Are those Japanese
who were born there and who have
grown up there to manhood q better
class Of citizens than their fathers and
mothers and other ancestOrsf Does the
fact that they were born and reared on
the island, and the fact that they have
lived there improve them, and make
them more easily assimilated under the
conditions theref "a ,$g .fstL-',. T.. ia.
|. Mr.. Rigenburgh. They undoubtedly
are improved. They understand more
of the Occident than their fathers and
mothers, but the same characteristics
still prevail They are thrifty, indus
trious, and. keep to themselves, and
keep their race intact. at rn| ...
The Chairman. There are also n
number Of, Chinese that are becoming
citizens by virtue of having been born
and reared theref Z. -.
n Mr.. SRivenburgh. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Are they inclined to
take hOnesteadsf a
Mr.. Rivenbufgh. A few, but not so
much as the. Japanese.
The Chairman. They make fine citi-
zens, do they notf
Mr.. RiVehburgh. The young Chinese
men are a very fine type of young men
You find them in responsible positions
in the banks, trust companies, and Off
ces in the towns, You do not find many
Of the young Chinese In the. country fol.
loving farming pursuits.
!, The Chairman. The Portuguese make
substantial farming peoplef
Mr.. Rigenburgh. The Portuguese
are a good agricultural people. They
have been trained to il in their own
country for generations, and when they
go on q piece Of land in the Territory
they cultivate II and make use of It.
The Chairman. Ny recellection is
that when | was on the Islands | saw
a number of Portuguese engaged in
raising fruit, grapes, pineapples, and
things of that kind. !
Mr.. Rivenbnrgh. In small way
around their houses; yes, sir; and they
raise garden truck TO q certain extent.
Mr.. johnson, AS p matter of fact,
II a Hawaiian,born Japanese and an
American citizen applies for home
stead, your officials oyer there have no
recourse but 10 give him a chance at
Mr. Riyenburgh, Yes, sir that is
true, E,r ,s.r|,..
,Mr. johnson. And they are incroas-
ing In their aPpleationsf
Mr.. >Riyenburgh, Yes, sir.
Mr.. Johnson. And they will get your
hoInpsteadaf ~.