Hawaii Organic Act: Congressional debates on Hawaii Organic Act
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GOVERNMENT FOR HAWAII.
February 6, 1900 The bill (S. 222) to provide a government for the Territory of
Senate Hawaii was announced as next in order.
v. 33 (2) Mr. COCKRELL. Let that be passed over. There is no need
p. 1599 of wasting time in debating that now.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The bill will be passed over.
LANDS ON OAHU ISLAND, HAWAII.
February 8, 1900 Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. Some days ago I asked unanimous
Senate consent for the present consideration of the joint resolution (S.R.
v. 33 ( 2 ) 76) withdrawing certain lands on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, from
p. 1648 the public domain, which I then reported from the Committee on
Public Lands. I see that both of the Senators who had some
questions about it on that day are present to-day, and I again ask
for its present consideration. I deem it a matter of sufficient
importance to make the request.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Wyoming asks
unanimous consent for the present consideration of the joint resolution
indicated by him. Is there objection?
There being no objection, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole,
proceeded to consider the joint resolution.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The joint resolution has heretofore been read.
Mr. SPOONER. I should like to ask the Senator to explain in a word, if he
can, what the object of the bill is?
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. It is simply this: There is a tract of probably
a hundred and twenty thousand square feet of land in the suburbs of
Honolulu which has been for many years dedicated to the purposes of a royal
mausoleum. It has upon it buildings built by the Hawaiian government, and
the people there are very solicitous lest it shall become a part of the public
domain of the United States and either be divided up or let out for show
purposes. It may be a mere sentiment on their part, but they are very
solicitous about it, and on my visit to the island I was asked to take up the
matter-and I do so in this manner-to withdraw it from the public domain.
Mr. FORAKER. The Senator from Wisconsin asked one of the questions I
wanted to ask. There is another he did not ask, and it is one which has not yet
been answered. There are about 120,000 square feet. Can the Senator tell us
whether it is all occupied or all in use? That is a considerable tract of ground
for the royal family alone to have for burial purposes.
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. It is not so very large when you come to consider the
dimensions. I think perhaps it is 250 feet on the street, extending backward so
as to contain in all about 120,000 feet. There are upon that ground one or
two buildings, one a building for the caretaker of the grounds, the other a
mausoleum, a Gothic building of stone, and one or two subterranean vaults.
The land is all needed for the purpose for which it has been re-served, and is
all properly cared for and set out in walks, with trees, etc.
Mr. COCKRELL. What is the depth of it?
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. The Senator's arithmetic will tell him. I should
say it is 250 feet in front. The dimensions are all given in the joint resolution.
That would make it--
Mr. COCKRELL. I did not hear the joint resolution read. In fact, it has not
been read to-day.
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. There are 120,000 square feet, and I think it is not
more than 250 feet in front, extending back--
Mr. COCKRELL. Is there anything more than a reasonable space around
the mausoleum and the buildings?
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. 1 think it is only a reasonable space.
Mr. SPOONER. Will the Senator allow me to inquire what was the
condition of the title before the annexation of the islands by Congress?
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. It was public land.
Mr. FORAKER. Was not this a part of the Crown land?
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. No; it was a part of the public land.
Mr. FORAKER. It was part of the land set aside originally for the
government.
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. For the government.
Mr. FORAKER. I understand that originally the public do-main was
divided into three classes.
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. Three classes-the government one-third, the Crown
one-third, and individuals one-third.
Mr. FORAKER. One-third for the government, one-third for the Crown,
and one-third for the people.
Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. This belonged to the public lands, and was taken
over by our Government the same as the Crown lands.
Mr. GALLINGER. There is one matter which troubles me, and probably
the Senator from Wyoming can readily explain it.
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