The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-25
METHOD OF THE ?. P. R.
EXPLAINED by MIR. JOHN ErIME.
LUTB BRIEFLY.
The Means of IA Peaceful Evolution From
Political Inequalities the Aim
of the System.
(COntinued.)

(COntinued.)
Preferential proportional representa-
ton is not new proposition but like
many other good things it has gone un-
noticed for a long time, or,.if noticed at
all, it was derided by those who saw in
its application positive remedy of
those evils by which they prospered.
The plan was first advocated by the late
Thomas Hare. barrister at law in
London, in 1857 and was ably set forth
by John Stuart Mill. 1t has since been
much simplified by Sir John Lubbock
and others, and can be claimed as the
simplest and most effective system OF
voting ever devised.
Applied to our local conditions the
system would contemplate the election
of Senators and Representatives, either
at large for the whole Republic, or by
Islands, as now provided for the election
of Senators, thereby doing away, with
the district" system of voting; event
ually it would from the very nature OF
things result in the abolition of the
Senate as well, as there would be no
need for any further check against I'M
Just legislation than could be found in
the house itself by reason of its mem.
bers being representative of all classes
having the right to vote.
The election is by quota, the same
being ascertained by dividing the num-
Der of votes cast at an election by the
number of Representatives TO be
elected'-the distinguishing and most
excellent feature of this system being
that the wasted votes are reduced to
minimum. The method of voting and
style of ballot used may be similar to
the Australian ballot system as con-
Quoted on these Islands except that
where in the present system person
voting for Senator on this Island can
make up vote for each of six candi-
dates By the Preferential sys-
TEN he would place numbers opposite
the names of six candidates in the order
OF his choice, placing the figure 81" OPP
posite the name of the candidate
whom he most desires to see elected
so" opposite his next best candidate,
"3" against his third choice, and go on
to the sixth.
The ballots are not counted and vote
determined at each polling place as
under the present system; but, on clos
ing the polls, the ballot box and register
are sealed up together with report OF
| the Registration Bureau where the
counting and distribution OF ballots
takes place.
A number of upright letter files, one
for each candidate, are provided and
marked each with the name of candi-
date. The distribution of the ballots is
accomplished by placing each ballot on
the file OF the candidate opposite whose
name the figure 81" is marked on such
ballot. All The ballots having been so
filed, and the total number cast deter
mined, the quota is found as above
stated, Where division results in
fractional parts the fractions are dis
carded.
Should any OF the files hold quota OF
ballots or more, the surplus, ii any, is
taken from such file and distributed
over the remaining files on second
| al, 10, ha q
original distribution, the quota of bal.
lots is removed from the file of the
elected candidate, placed in al
envelope and marked with his name
Upon distribution of the surplus o
those thus elected having taking
place others have their quoti
filled by the addition of second choic,
ballots and are likewise disposed Of
the surplus being divided among the re
naming candidates and the quota Sc
aside as above stated.
If upon distribution of any series o
surplus ballots 1t should be found tina
none of the remaining candidates hav
obtained quota, then the process
known as elimination is brought int
play and the candidate on whose file tn
least number of ballots appear is droI
ped out and the ballots on his file ar
: distributed over the remaining files i
like manner as the surplus ballots ar
, disposed of; and this process of electio
: on the one hand, and elimination on tn
other is continued until the number @
! candidates files remaining is reduced /
the number remaining to be elected
These are declared elected by whateve
number of ballots each has on his file q
the time. In this way one or possibl
two out of dozen representatives ma
get in on few votes less than I'll
t quota; but the loss will not amount /
D more than five per cent. of the tot
, vote cast, and where the consttueno
K. is large not more than one half of on
Z. per cent. of the vote cost would be thu
in, Elective.
g Now let us take the returns from IL
d Island of Hawaii in the election Z,
e Representatives, 1892, and see how Il
!, division of the island into distric
operated; compare the seven constit
encies with the number of electors, an
show by the table What would ha,