The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-04-22
Municipal Government.

The Legislature being about to meet, the
time is opportune for recurring to a subject
which we have often discussed in these col
umns-the necessity for some more eff
cient City Government. 1t is difficult to I'M
derstand how that considerable section of
the population of Honolulu, who are &C
quainted with the manner in which NUM-
cipal affairs are regulated in the United
Suites, in Europe, and in the dependencies
of European States, has SO long tolerated
the condition of things by which this town
is disgraced, and through it is threatened
with so many dangers. We believe-and
are thankful that we have reason to believe
that of late some little public interest in
this matter has been awakened. But pub
lie opinion here seems to need some sharp
pressure of circumstances to force it into
definite form and induce an Outspoken ex-
of it. Supineness even to their own
interests is the primary characteristic of
the white residents of Honolulu. Has q
normal temperature of eighty and odd de-
grees dried the marrow in their ~backbones?
Perhaps if q Minister, or one of our princi-
pal citizens, were to be MORALLY injured by
a capsiZe occasiOned by the distractions
that are allowed in our streets, the sensa-
tional occurrence would arouse some agita-
ton in favor of q more civilized state of
things. Or if the expectations of our medi-
cal men are realized, and the spring devel-
opes for them a profitable epidemic of death
dealing fever, perhaps something may be
done. Without some such spun we do not
venture to rely on public opinion to enforce
any reform, and therefore we turn to the Gov
eminent and to our Legislators. We appeal
to the former as the proper leaders of pro-
gressive movement, We appeal to the lat
ter to see to it, that if Ministers do not do
their duty in this matter, the coming ses-
sion be not allowed to lapse without some
thing being done. We expect that the re-
representatives. of Honolulu will move in the
matter of devising some plan for the better
government of the city, and to secure an ap-
preparation adequate to the requirements of
the occasion.
We are very sensible that many difficult
ties stand in the way of securing for Homo
lulu such a municipal organization as is
common in other civilized countries. The
mass of the population is ignorant as to
what is needed and as to how our needs
may be wisely satisfied. 1t seems to be
clear that ia the first instance the city must
be put into leading strings. 1t is only
among the educated portion of the popula-
ton that men are to be found who have
any antecedent knowledge of how to set
things in better order. 1t is men with some
experience who are needed. No system of
popular municipal government could be de-
vised, that could be reckoned on to bring
such men to the front, Longer reflection
does not lead US to modify The suggestion
made i'll these columns some considerable
time ago, that a Commission selected from
among the ranks of our Privy Councillors
would be the most suitable body to whom
to entrust the regulation of city affIirs I'M
til the time shall be ripe for some more adj
vanced organization. Such a commission
should not be merely a committee of the
Privy Council exercicimg some delegated
authority. We indicate the Privy Council
lors as the proper persons from whom u Sc
lection should be made because they are
men who nave already been recognized as
competent to deal with public affairs, and
as such nave become the chosen advisers of
theII RS~We also think they are to be
leagues in - they would be able to use
matter affee~ fuence with their col
came before the E6CounciI whenever any
But as Commissioners eli aFests OF the city
! thority should be lis for the &sloeratioh.
heOoQdant QIEAA ou-