Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-27
SENATOR thomas POINTSCLEARLY
TOINJUSHCE DONE HONOLULUOIL
Colorado Scion ASsas Department and Tells Fasteners
That Not All Men Who Take Up Public Lands Are Grafters
and That Some Get Lands Honestly and Under the Law

their protection. to the extent e
which II may be grudgingly given, that
they cannot be reproached with lack
Of good faith or any desire 20 violate
the law in the letter or in the spirit
that do not hesitate to assert that
one OF the supreme requirements oil
the hour is TO extend relief to them
before the present Congress expires
So believing, feel impelled to say
that IL the naval program Is to be
come effective through legislation by
this session-and speak In my own
behalf. although believe reflect
the opinion Of some of my assoc
ciates-it will encounter very serious
and perhaps insuperable difficulties II
the right of these people to relief Is
not respected. This right shall not
II can help it, be sacrificed to what
] consider subject Of less import
az" - !.
Mr.. Gallinger. "Mr. President
some OF us who reside in the far East
and who have not very accurate know
ledge concerning these matters that
our western friends are greatly inter
ested in feel great deal of doubt as
to the great questions that are to
come before the senate. will venture
to ask my learned friend from Colo
RADIO II all efforts have been exerted
to bring about compromise under
standing between the navy department
and the citizen as TO the questions thai
will be involved in this bill?"
Mr.. Thomas. Eyes; Mr.. President
| think that all possible efforts have
been resorted to and have been ex
hausted.p
Mr.. Gallinger. And have failed?'
Mr.. Thomas. And have failed
with that department. It remains OBJ
durate, and 30 we shall have to be. =
Now let me say. Mr.. President, that
this entire subject is within the ju
risdiction of the department of the
interior. The department Of the int
rior is satisfied, not entirely so but
as q compromise is satisfied, with the
amendments which the committee on
public lands considered and which
were recently reported by the sena'
tor from California (Mr. Phelan). In
fact, they are much more satisfactory
to that department than they are To
some members OF the committee, my
self included.
Indeed, Mr.. President, remark
able anomaly In public administration
Is presented by this unnatural situa
ton. The navy department intruded
itself into the land administration
and the resulting confusion was in
eyitable.
Il have the right to complain of II
Doubtless the purpose Of 1t is legiti
mate, and know that the intentions
Of the secretary of the navy are Of the
best He seeks to discharge his duties
and his obligations as he sees them
and as he Is advised by the attorney
general. But that does not help the
situation. Let me state an instance
which indicates what injustice flows
from the action Of the navy depart
ment with regard to this proposition
I may say in passing that there is
plenty Of oil in the country for the
navy and FOR those who are entitled to
the oil they have discovered. to which
they have lawful right of posses
sion, which they have sought to OBJ
tain BY proper and legitimate location
The Honolulu Oil Company has ex
pended millions of dollars in the per
fectly legitimate exploitation Of some
Of this land. II made application for q
patent Its papers have been subject
ed to the most rigid scrutiny. The
interior department went over them
microscopically. and after long, ex
haustiye, and complete investigation
OF its claims passed the papers fol
patent; whereupon. at the request ol
the attorney general and the secretary
Of the navy, the patents were held up
and since that, time these two great
departments Of the government have
interfered successfully to prevent this
company from securing its lawful
property. Consequently although
these people are entitled to their pat
ents, having complied with every pos
sible requirement Of the law. having
satisfied the one department Of the
country which has and ought to have
sole Jurisdiction Of the subject, are
even more helpless and more distantly
removed from their title than when
they made application. And there are
other instances. These things APP
peal to us, Mr.. President, and we be
lieye that justice, fairness and com
mon decency require US to assert and
apply the existing law for the benefit
of those who have acted under it ant
are paramount to every other consit
GRAFTON Just now. Beside IT even th
navy bill is OF secondary importance.