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Hawaii Organic Act: Congressional debates on Hawaii Organic Act
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3813 the character of the cultivation, the nationality of the labor em- ployed, and the rate of wages paid, whether daily, weekly, or semimonthly. In this way we can amass here information which would serve a fruitful purpose hereafter, in legislation relating to these islands. Mr. GROSVENOR. Does this amendment propose to limit the amount of land which can be held by an individual? Mr. NEWLANDS. This amendment does not, because it is an amendment to a section which relates to the organization of cor porations, and if it included individuals it might be subject to a point of order. It provides that no corporation shall own exceed ing 1,000 acres of land. As I have stated already, my purpose is to furnish the basis for comprehensive action on this subject by the committee of confer- ence. I do not think that here, in the short time afforded us for the consideration of this bill, we can map but and shape a measure that will meet every requirement. In my remarks in reference to religious and church organiza- tions. I pointed out the fact that the island of Puerto Rico is an island a hundred miles long and 40 miles wide, with a population of 900,000 people, the most thickly populated area in any civilized country. Now, shall we legislate with reference to these islands in such a way as to promote small holdings by people who have an interest in the soil, or shall we by inaction let these countries drift into conditions of land monoply, which will only result as such systems have always resulted in conditions of unrest and disturbance leading to revolution? As I stated before, almost every war of any great extent, almost every revolution, has had its foundation in a revolt against the monopoly of land, whether that monopoly was held by the feudal barons or whether it was held by the nobility or by the church. Numerous revolts all over this continent and all over the European continent have taken place against the large holdings of the religious organizations, and it seems to me that it is wisdom now to put in this bill at the starting point comprehensive legislation upon this subject.