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Show H of imimmrii impoutaxck. B The Denver News says : The BB question that 1ms been two or B three times discussed in these H columns, as to the relations of BB our newly acquired possessions to B the federal government, has at B last come to the front in the case H of Hawaii.- Attorney' George H Gear of Honolulu, has arrived it. B this country to ask for a ruling of B the supreme cotnf of the United B Status on' this very point. It ap- B pears that in a case involving B contract labor a species of slav- B cry the supreme court of Ha B waii decided that the constitution B of the United States was not yet B in force in those inlands. It is B presumed that Attorney Gear's Bt mission is to present an appeal to B' the supreme com t of the United B States W.hclher the court will B entertain it is another matter, n There is yet absolutely no legisla- B tion providing for appeals from H Hawaiian courts, and until such B an act is passed by congress the K supreme court is nut authorized Hj to take cognizance of any such Hj appeals. The supreme court B -vvill of necessity turn down At- Hj. torney Gear's petition, but in so K doing il will virtually sustain the B opinion of the Hawaiian court. Hj Until congress by direct and posi- K live legislation Extends 'federal laws over Hawaii, and provides for judicial appeals, il cannot be claimed that the national constitution consti-tution can apply to Hawaii, as it does to the other territories of the United Slates. it is (it immediate importance thai congress should take up this matter as soon as it convenes. As both Hawaii mid Vorlo Rico have become the propeity of the United States, it is due to their inhabitant thflt territorial forms of government be provided for them, and thnt their relations to the fedend government be definitely defin-itely determined. Civil establishments establish-ments should supersede military ruld as speedily as possible. |