The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-09
T H r
ABOUT MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

The want Of some form Of municipal
government for Honolulu IS generally
recognized. But it Is q want which is
not likely to be supplied for some time
to come. Nevertheless it Is a subject
which should not be lost sight Of, and
the discussion Of which upon cOnserva-
tive lines must do good. The Interior
Department has far too much work i'm
posed upon it to admit Of the Minister
giving anything ike intelligent attention
to one-half of it, and last session Of the
Legislature was distinguished by
marked intention to dwarf all other de-
partments and increase the importance
and patronage of the Interior Office.
The unwisdom of this policy Is even
now manifest in a variety of ways, and
will become more apparent as the sea
son advances. As a matter OF fact, the
Minister of the Interior, whatever may
be his qualifications, cannot attend 10
the multifarious duties and details of
that department as required by law. We
say this in justice to the present incum-
bent, just as we should have said it Of
his two predecessors in Office under
similar conditions, despite their wider
range OF experience and training.
But in truth and fact the direction and
control OF municipal affairs rests exclu-
sively with the Minister of the Interior.
He should therefore be somewhat familiar
with the general requirements of the
city, as well as with the routine of local
government generally. Doubtless the
machinery of the Board of Health may
be utilized very effectually in the work
OF city sanitation, and the police may be
made of far greater assistance in enforc-
ing municipal regulations than al pres
emit For example, there should be !
regulation forbidding the sweepings Of
stores being pushed upon the sidewalks
or into the gutter, to be distributed by
the wind al over the city, making the
streets unsightly, and occasionally
frightening horses and endangering
life and property In al we'll
regulated towns this practice is for
hidden; 1t Is the rule in Honolulu
Again, the equally dangerous practice Of
dropping orange peel and banana skins
on the footpaths should be prohibited
This practice is eminently dangerous 10
life. and on account OF the number OF
fatal accidents in English towns occa-
stoned by stepping upon orange peel, the
Imperial Parliament constituted the
dropping OF the peel OF oranges upon
footpaths OF any town in the United
Kingdom a misdemeanor punishable by
three months Imprisonment. There i
no reason why similar disregard Of
human life and comfort should not be
punished in Honolulu.
We mention these as points OF practi-
cal detail in the work OF municipal gov
eminent which a local governing body
would attend 10, but which one can
hardly expect the Minister Of the Interior
to look after. There are other matters
in this connection making for the com
fort and well-being OF the city population
which need not be enumerated, but
which viii occur to the minds Of persons
who have lived under well-organized and
intelhgently administered municipal
governments elsewhere. As q general
rule they are neglected here But as
taxation is increasing, while profits on
trade and industries OF all kinds are de
creasing, the day Is not lar distant when
an organization viii be formed
for the purpose OF securing a more eff
cient and economical administration Of
local affairs While profits were large
and business doomed" the average
taxpayer gave little heed to the eXpendi-
ture OF the taxes OF the results obtained
But conditions having changed, and
there being no Indication OF return to
the Flush times" Of the past, while the
cost OF living remains extravagantly
high, municipal expenditure becomes a
matter OF Importance TO the taxpayers,
who expect the best possible return
for their forced contribution TO the rev
enue.