Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920
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HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920 HEARINGS BEFORETHE COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES UNITED STATES SENATE SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS THIRD SESSION ON H. R. 13500 A BILL TO AMEND AN ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO PROVIDE A GOVERNMENT FOR THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII," APPROVED APRIL 30, 1900, AS AMENDED, TO ESTABLISH AN HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Printed for the use OFthe Committee on TERRITORIES WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1921 COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES. HARRY S. NEW, INDIANACHAIRMAN GEORGE P. McLEAN. CONNECTICUT KEY PITTMAN, Nevada. WESLEY L.JONES WASHINGTON ROBERT L. OWEN, OKLAHOMA WARREN 0. WARDING, Ohio. JAMES D. PHELAN, CALIFORNIA FREDERICK HALE MAINE. JOHN F. NUGENT, Idaho. WILLIAM E. BORAH IDAHO GEORGE E. CHAMBERLAIN, Oregon REED SMOOT UTAH ASA J. SMITH CLERK 2 LIST OF WITNESSES. Statement of- pAGE AKUNA , AkaIko ------------ -------------------------- 44,143 KALANIANAOLE, J. KUHLO -------- ------------------------ 7,128 McClellan, George M- ------------------------------------ g, 105 Pitman, W. B - --------------------------------------- 123 RIVENBURG B. G --------------------------------------- 41 Robertson, A. G. M----- ------------------------------ 6 8 HAWAIIAN HOMES CO1MISSION ACT. 1920. TUSDAY, DZEZX3BEI 14, 1920. UNITED STATES SENATE. COMMITTEE OX THEwaeldaton, TERRITORIESb. e. The committee met pursuant to call at 10.30 o'clock a. m., in room 347, Senate Office Building. Senator Harry S. New presiding. Present: Senators New (chairman), Smoot, Pittman, Nugent, and Chamberlain. There appeared before the committee Hon. J.Kuhio Kalanianaole, Delegate from the Territory of Hawaii; Mr. A. G. M. Robertson, Representing the Parker ranch: Mr. W. B. Pittinan, representing the Raymond ranch and others: Mr. B. (). Rivenburg-h Rev. Akaiko Akana, Mr. George M. McClellan. Mr. Waller. and others. The committee proceeded to consider the bill (H. R. 1350) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide a government for the Ter. ritory of Hawaii," approved April 30 1900. as amended, to establish an Hi1waiian Homes Commission, and for other purposes. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, this is a meeting of the Senate Com- mittee on Territories to consider House bill 1350. which is now before the Senate. I might say that there were very full hearings on this measure when it was before the House, printed copies of which are here on this desk and available for any Senator who wants to consult them as we proceed. Also we have copies of the bill. This measure was considered by this committee last winter and spring, and was reported out with the recommendation that it pass, but the session ended and the Senate adjourned before any action was taken on it. Since that, with the opening of this session; I was noti- fied that a committee from Hawaii was here and anxious to have a hearing on the bill before any further action was taken. I therefore moved that it be recommitted to this committee, and it is now before us for consideration. The delegation from Hawaii is here, and we would be glad to hear from it. Judge Robertson, I believe, is the spokesman of the delegation. We would be glad to hear front you your views concerning it, and your objections to this bill, if you have any. STATEXNT OF IM. A. G. K. ROBERTSON. The ('iAtn.IAx. You are a resident of Hawaii? Mr. ROEwirrsox. Yes. The CH.R3M..x. Just state your status and all, to identify yourself, to the stenographer. HAWATIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920. Mr. RooEirrsom.. I am from Honollu. I ant representing a client of mine, the Parker nnch, which is interested very substantially in this bill and will he seriously affected by it, or would be if it was passed, and I am here to ask the committee to hear me in oppo. sition to the hill. Senator S.MoT. How many acres does the Parker ranch consist oft Mr. Ronmir~'Ao. Do you mean the entire ranch, Senator? Senator S.ioo'r. Yes. Mr. RonEnRso.%. Something over 500.000 acres in leasehold and fee simple, and all qualities of land. Large quantities of that are watste hind. like lava flow. and large portions of it are of very in. ferior quality. Senator Siomor. I have been nil over the ranch, so that I know what the hind is. T wanted to know what the area of it was. Mr. Ronrfrsov. One-third of it is first-class grazing land. The ('Irnl.,Ax. Will you please tell the committee just what the Phrker ranch is, and how did it become the Parker ranch? Ilow long have the pretnt holders had it and upon what terms did they come into possession of it ? M[r. Ionkirrsox. W ell. the Parker ranch, as I understand it, was originally owned by one John Parker and his nephew, tlje late Samuel Parker. whom qome of you gentlemen probably knew. John I"aiker', interests, as I understand it, then went to one of the sons of Saimuel Parker. John Parker. jr. Then John Parker. jr., and his father. Sam Parker, were the owners of the ranch. John Parker. jr.. died rather young. leaving his daughter s his sole heir a minor child. Her giurdian acquired the interest of the grand. father. -atn Parker. in the ranch. and .theretbv became'the owner of thie entire ranch. That young lady married and had one child, and theii she died and then the father (lied, so that the present owner of the ranch is a young bov by the name of Richard Smart, who is an orphan, living; in California with his grandmother, who is bringing him up. I would not venture to sav exactly his age now. but lie is about 7 yeas ol. o that the ranch is being managed by'The a triistee for this minor child. CRAIRMAN. Of course, the present interests came- into pos. session of this tract long before the UTnited States had any particular interest in Hawaii? Air. RI:iTrrso,.. Yes. When I began this outline of the history I should have said that I would go back 50 years or more, probably. The ('hrH.AuR R . Fifty years? Mr. RoEwrrso. Yes When the original Parker owned that land. 1 think now that it was all of 50 years ago. This brief synopsis I have given covered a long period of time, and it has gone from one to another. The CHAIAtx',%. And they got it front the old native Hawaiian GovernmentI Mr. RonrroN. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Was it in the form of a grant? Mr. RonEnisov. Some bit grant and some of the lands were ac. quired since in fee simple. The CHAIRMAN. By purchase? HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION AC t i0. Mr. Bommeog. By purchase from private parties&Possibly some was purchased from the Government from time to time in small piece. Senator NuGENT. From what Government? Mr. RomRTsN. From the monarchy, prior to annexation. The CRAmMAN. Yes Mr. RomNrsoN. And a large portion of it is now under leasehold from the Government. Senator NuGzrF. From what Government; the United States Gov- ernment or the Hawaiian Government? Mr. Rouzro . First, from the Hawaiian Government, and to-day under the Territorial Government. A large portion of it is held under leasehold from the Government. Senator SMoor. Will you state how many acres is under leasehold to-day? Mr. RonERTsov. I can not tell you exactly, but under this bill 99,0W0 acres of Government leasehold land would be taken; that is, the leases would be terminated and the lands turned over to home. stead entry under this bill. Senator 8.mm. Jkist let me see that statement. Mr. KALANIANAOLE. One hundred and forty-tour thousand acres are )eased to the Parker estate. Senator S.MOOT. One hundred and forty-four thousand three hun- dred and one acres. Mr. Ron:isox. That is all the land-good, bad, and indifferent- I wold like to remind the Senator. Senator NUGo.XT. Did I understand you to say that the total held by"Mr. that estate is 500,000 acres? RonEIrrsox. Ves; including everything, land in fee simple and wlat is leased from the Government; about 0-00.000 acres. About one-third of that is lava flow. That is waste land that a jack rabbit could not raise a family on. The ChAIRMAN. About one-third of it, you say? Mr. RonEnrsov. About one-third. Another third is a very in- ferior quality of pasture land, arid and rocky. That would leave remaining about one-third of that area of good pasture land. Senator N'oxT. That would leave 170,000 acres of good land Mr. Roiilrrso.. I should say so. Senator NUGONT. Where is this land located? Mr. Ron~wrsox. It is on the island of Hawaii, the largest island in the group. Senator Nuoswr. What portion of that island is available for pas- ture purposes and agricultural purposes? Mr. ontmnTsox. I could not say offhand. Senator NuOEXT. Approximately? Mr. RwivEnuRoI. The area of tfie island is 900 square miles. Senator NUoNT. That includes inountaini and everything else? Mr. RivExnunon. Yes. Senator Nuo,,N-T. Can you give is any idea. of the acreage in that island that is available for grazing and agricultural purposes Mr. RivnBUoI. I would not say more than one-third, I think. HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920. Mr. KALAxIAXA0o. I would say all of that island is available for agricultural and grazing purpose, with the exception of a few recent lava flows. Senator Sror. This does not affect anything on the land we are speaking of. This ranch has 144,0(K) acres under lease. Senator NtoiTxT. Yes. What I had in mind was this: It was stated here at the last hearing that there were thousands of natives there that had no roof over their heads and no way of making a living except by hiring out to other people.