The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-01-28
Election Districts.

The Constitution provides that, the repre-
sentation of the people shall be based upon the
principle of equality, and shall be regulated
and apportioned by the Legislature according
to the population, to be ascertained, from time
to time, by official census. The Representa-
tives shall not be less in number than twenty
four, nor more than forty"
Since the last Assembly another census has
been taken, which shows that changes in po-
pulation have made still more glaring than be-
fore the inequality of the present representa-
ton. No apportionment has been made since
the adoption of the Civil Code in 1859, except
an amendment in 1868, adding second mem
Der for Wailuku. The Assembly now has
twenty-eight representatives and nineteen no
bles.
1t will devolve upon the coming session to
reapportion the representation of the kingdom
on basis of equality. No reason exists for
increasing the number, and there are reasons
why it might well be decreased to twenty-five
or twenty-six. That branch of the House
would then out-number the other. Without
further reasons against any increase, the fact
that the Constitutional amendment of 1874
swept away about the only restriction on the
elective franchise, is enough, because, even
small property qualification was some protec-
ton to rights of property, and that is now
erased from the Constitution. We have uni
versal suffrage, to greater degree perhaps
than under most constitutional governments,
property being confined to small portion of
the people. To add to the inequality of rep
resentation, taxes on property are confined to
those who possess over three hundred dollars
worth.
Bill was introduced into the Assembly of
1875 to re-distribute the representation, but
was not framed with any regard to the consti-
tutional direction and was rejected. 1t pro-
posed to give Hawaii 10, Maui IL, Molokai
2, Oahu 10 and Kauai members, making a
total of 81. The population of the country by
the census of 1872 was-Hawaii l6, 900, Maui
1884, Molokai and Lanai 1857, Oahu 1870
and Kauai 1850. By the recent census Ha-
waii has 1904, Maui 1900, Molokai and
Lanai 2,795, Oahu 2O,236 and Kauai 1884,
and the present basis of representation is, for
Hawaii, one member for every 2,129 of popu-
lation, for Maui LA, for Molokai and Lanai
1897, for Oahu 2,529 and for Kauai ,s7s.
Taking 1000 as the basis of representation,
the only changes needed would be to give
Kohala another member for its 4,0l7 inhabit-
ants, making nine members for Hawaii take
one member from Lahaina, or else unite Lanai,
Lahaina and Kaanapali, giving that district
two members, which would be more than it
would be entitled to on this basis allow one
member only to Molokai make Waialua and
Koolauloa, Oahu, one district with one men,
Der; give one to Honolulu and leave Kauai as
at present. Honolulu would be entitled to
two or three new members. This would leave
the House as at present, or with one more or
less, as Honolulu might get one, two, or three
more members. Several of the election dis
tricts would have far less than 1000 popn la
ton, especially Puma, Hawaii, with little
over 1000; and a few would contain over
that number. Lahaina and Kaanapali to-day
with thee members have but 2, 44S inhabitants
while Makawao with one, has over 1900.
Still another question arises, and this is
the rights of minorities. Under our present
system, in those districts returning more than
one member, all are placed upon one ticket
and voted as unit. If Honolulu were divi
ded into four sub-districts, each of which re-
turned one member, it is probable that the
representation of this district would be wholly
altered. North Hilo complains that its inter-
ests are swallowed up in South Hilo. Honu-
aula and Waikapu are said to be opposed on
some things to Waikiki. North KohaIa some
times elects quite another man than the south
half of the district. This subject should be
remembered in connection with the next cleo
ion.