Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1900 — HAWAII TO BE A TERRITORY. [ARTICLE]

HAWAII TO BE A TERRITORY.

The Government Will Be Similar to That of Arizona. According to the bill introduced in Congress by Representative Knox of Massachusetts, the Hawaiian Islands are to be organized as a territory on an equal footing with Arizona and the other territories of the Union. There will bo for the islands a governor, a secretary, both appointed by the President: a treasurer, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, commissioner of agriculture and forestry? superintendent of public works, superintendent of public instruction, auditor and deputy auditor, surveyor and high sheriff, appointed by the governor. The Legislature is to consist of a Senate and House of Representatives, elected by the people. The territory is to be represented by a delegate in Congrss and is made a judicial district of the United States, with a district court. The judicial power of the territory is vested in a supreme court and in superior courts, to be established by the Legislature. The constitution and laws of the United States locally applicable are extended over the new territory, and the laws of Hawaii not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States are continued in force. Congressman Knox in his report accompanying the bill discusses the population of the islands and says that of the 109,020 inhabitants in 189<J. 31,019 were Hawaiians, 8,435 part Hawaiians, 3,096 Americans, 2,250 British. 1,432 Germans, 101 French, 378 Norwegians, 15.191 Portuguese, 24,407 Japanese, 21,616 Chinese and 1,055 of other nationalities. The present population is placed at 130,000. “With the passage of this bill,” continues the report, “the Chinese will be excluded and the importation of Japanese contract laborers will be prohibited. The free School, free church, free press and manhood suffrage have marked their progress, and all the younger Hawaiians speak, read and write the English language. But perhaps the chief consideration as to the fitness of the Hawaiian people for a territorial government is that the dominant class in the islands, both in politics and business, is American?’ All persons who were subjects under the monarchy and. ah who became citizens of the republic shall be citizens of the territory. Biennial sessions of the Legislature are provided. The governor is to be a citizen of the territory.