Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-07
CONTINUED from Page u

to amend the leasing period so that
leases may be continued in periods of
not exceeding % instead of Is years.
Congressman Albert Johnson OF
Washington questioned Rivenburgh
with particular closeness, intfmating
at several points that the amend
ments appeared to be directed toward
giving the plantations more instead of
less prospect Of using the public lands.
Rivenburgh denied this absolutely. de-
clarfng that the purpose Of the amend
ments is to place power and discretion
In the hands Of the proposed home
stead board
Delegate Kuhio was not present at
the hearing.
Following is some Of the salient dis
cussion:
Mr.. Dowell. Is this land now being
taken up rapidly by the homestead
ers?
Mr.. Rivenburgh. Yes; just as fast
as we can get the growing crop off
and make the survey, and so on.
Mr.. johnson. The growing crop is
on there on account Of the lease?
Mr.. Rivenburgh. Yes; under the
lease.
Mr.. Johnson. To the sugar plant
ers?
/ Mr.. Rivenburgh Yes; the planter
or whoever has the lease has a grow
ing crop and they are cultivating the
crop, and when the application is
made notification is given to the plant.
er that the crop which is growing on
the piece of land will be the last one,
and that as soon as 1t is harvested it
must be homesteaded.
Mr.. Johnson. Have you not got in
here an amendment providing for the
continuation Of leases In periods not
exceeding 20 years?
Mr.. Rivenburgh. This first part
Mr.. Johnson (interposing). Is not
that really what this bill is for?
Mr.. Rivenburgh. No; they struck
out the word fifteen" and inserted
twenty" for this reason: Sugar cane
is two-year crop and it runs in null
tiples Of two. Eighteen would have
the same effect. For instance, 1t
takes practically six years on new
land to get your cane. producing at a
profit, so II we homesteaded a sec.
ton of land and then leased another
section for six years and another sec
tion for u years and another section
for 10 years, then in these siX-year
periods the land could revert to the
government and be homesteaded.
Mr.. Johnson The probabilities are
that all this land which is running out
Of lease now will be released instead
Of i1omesteaded.
3 Mr.. .Riyenburgh.e No.; q, certain por.
ton Of them would be homesteaded. !
Mr.. johnson. What percentage do
you think would be released?
Mr.. Riyenhurgh. Probably S3 1-3
per cent would be homesteaded and
66 90 per cent would be leased.
Mr.. johnson. How many years do
you propose TO stand q man off on
his application for homestead If he
Is bona fide applicant and wantsrt
settle ON the, land?,.~, ~sg. =. gf4.,tr+a-
Mr. sRivenburgh.f That is done once
q year. For instance, If he applies In
August Of this year, he can not be
delayed later than January Of next
year. \ H.. ,. ssesfJ.
Mr.. Johnson. Is that mandatory
upon them? =.
Mr.. Rivenburgh. It is mandatory I'M
der this bill. On the 18th day uf
January Of each year they will specir
~ what they want for these appli-
cants. :.-
Mr.. Johnson. But II the land has
been leased for any period or up to 20
years - ~
Mr.. .Rivenburgl (interposing). They
can have It subject to the growing
crop. OF course. he can not come in
on the LIST Of January and grab this
cane land. <@&-,.~ - .,r.: -.,>
Mr.. johnson. We viii presume that
Il apply today for. an S0-acre home.
stead In q desirable location, and J.
am informed that there is growing
crop on. the land. am delayed until
the LIST Of January. then, i am inform
ed that there Is q, growing crop, and
then they pass me over until the next
year. .'esogg@ zz<...s... =. =
Mr.. iRivenburgh. But you are In
the same class with every other ap.
plicant for homesteads in that district.
Mr.. johnson. There would be
delay Of Is months. The homesteader
would have to wait q year before he
could be assured that he was going to
get q homestead. 49,. .H.. Il