Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-12-08

Dear Edward Macfarlane come down.
Minister of the Interior Gulick.
BOW" Although Mr.. Gulick is a
battIe-scarred veteran of several militia
companies, the cabalistic nltials-suffix
do not mean "braye old warrior" but
are says Queen street-a compliment
to Mr.. Gulick's mastery capacity for
saying nothing at infinite length.
sHGGEsTfONS FOR POLICE REFORM
EDITOR SATURDAY PRESS Sir.
There has been of late considerable
current comment upon the inadequacy.
ineiticlency and inconsistency of the
police department of the kingdom.
This comment has been by no means
confined TO newspaper writer's or to
members of the Opposition y; but has
included most of the thinking men OF
all classes AS it now stands the system
is at once a failure and farce. The
incompetence of its executive head is
largely responsible for this, but the
system itself is chiefly to blame. The
mere looping off of limbs that have
outlived their usefulness is by no means
enough; the system itself must be re-
formed. What this reform is to be is
for the careful consideration of the
coming Legislature. The following sug-
gcstlons, however, are not alone the
views of a small minority. They are
based upon the experience of older
governments than our own, and reflect
the judgment of some of the soundest
thinkers in the kingdom Expectant
legislators are respectfully invited to
consider these views and accord to
them what weight they deserve.
Health, morality and the safety of life
and property, are largely dependent
upon the police control of the commu-
nifty, That control, in turn, is largely
dependent upon the system under
which it operates. And that system
must be formulated and set in opera
tion by legislative action. Let legis
lators realize how deep is their respon-
sibility in this matter, and we may have
at least the beginning of the needed re-
form. There was never greater need
of an intelligent Legislature. And no
question that is likely to come before
1t calls for the exercise of more patient
investigation or greater knowledge of
Hawaiian official life, of the Hawaiian
people and of human nature.
.l
divided into three heads: of system, of
executive control and of personnel. In
considering the system the first anomaly
which presents itself is the existing
union between civil and police func-
tions-in most other countries distinct
The necessity of this separation applies
particularly to cities In this kingdom
it applies-wlth especial force-to
Honolulu only. But here it applies so
clearly that he who runs may read-if
he can read at all. The average
policeman is recruited from the ranks
OF average men, the world over; and
the average man is unqualified, by either
natural intelligence or education, to do
more than one thing at tme-and do
it well. No policeman can be serving
civil processes, or hunting up witnesses,
without neglecting the plain duty of
guarding the city and watching its citi
zens. This criticism applies TO the
rank and file, to captains and patrol
men. Another evil of system is the
method of appointment The COVER
nors of the respective islands, who
now appoint the police, have liter
ally nothing to do with police
management. Since the governorships
ceased to belong--by the unwritten
law of traditional custom-to men who
were chiefs in both name and reality,
the office of governor has been purely
supernumerary one. To wear lace on
ones coat and red feathers in ones
hat, to have foreign men of war burn
powder in ones honor and be privi-
legged to burn powder ones SELF, to
boss our matchless band, is what at
present constitutes the pomp and
circumstance and actual consequence
OF governorship in the kingdom of
Hawaii. But mixed with this harm
less play-day pageantry which every
one IS willing to see centred in such
amiable hands as those of good-natured
John Domlnis-are serious duties, call
ing for the active exercise OF courage,
tact and experience. In lieu of police !
appointment by the governor, would |
substitute commission of three men
-one TO be appointed by the minister
of the interior and the attorney-general |
jointly, another by the Honolulu
Chamber of Commerce, and third to |
be elected by the real-esiate taxpayers
OF the city OF Honolulu. Each OF these |
men should be a property holder, a |
voter and resident OF Honolulu for at
least two years. These men should |
serve without pay. On entering upon
their duties they should so classify |
themselves by lot that one should 20 |
out OF office in one year, another in |
two years and the third in three years
the vacancy to be filed by the ap |
pointing or electing person or persons,
each subsequent appointment or elecsl
tion TO MI the office tor three years
unless the officer be removed by death, |
resignation, or impeachment before the |
supreme court. This commission
should have power to appoint an officer
to be known as chief OF police, he in |
turn to be empowered to select his own
assistants, subject to confirmation by
the commission; and. in common with
subordinates, to hold Office during the |
pleasure OF the commission or until re- |
moved by impeachment All the police |
oush, TO be paid good salaries--enough |
to secure the exclusive time and atten. |