Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-07-30
AccRussivr sacxsL,pERs.

''tc want q S1F'sLEitHi llh' bhc
District Of Columbia" cry the oppor-
onts Of municipal organization. This
Is beautiful generality but the advo.
Gates have yet to offor an explanation
OF the benefits to be derived to the poo-
pie from such course The inference
10 be drawn Is that Honolulu with
local government established on the
same lines as that Of the District u
Columbia will BE- free from the burden
OF additional taxation which 1t Is
claimed will be forced upon the house-
holders by city charter. and presr-
mably will allow Honolulu to continue
to draw on the taxes Of outside dis
tricts for Its local expenses and I'M
provements.
What is the government of the nis-
trict of Columbia? The anti-municinal
cohorts have failed 70 explain. Does II
follow the present Honolulu plan Of
Capitalization and taxation. a haven
of municipal glory in which some one
else pays the bills? Doubtless the ad.
vocates of retrogression don't know
and don't want to know provided 1t is
possible to continue the same old
scheme of government.
The government Of the District Of
Columbia is vested in three commits
| sioners, two of whom are appointed
/ by the President from citizens of the
District having had three years resi-
| dence therein Immediately preceding
| that appointment and confirmed by the
| Senate The other commissioner Is
detailed by the President from the En-
| gineer Corps of the Army and must
have lineal rank senior to captain.
/ The commissioners appoint the sub
ordinate official service of the govern
ment. Congress makes all laws for
the District, but has intrustcd to the
commissioners authority to make 20.
lice regulations, building regulations
| plumbing regulations and other regl-
lations of municipal nature. The
tax rate for the District of Columbia
/ is $50 on each 500 as assessed valua.
ton. The net public debt is $3.50, 95s,.
9S7.
What is the proposition of the ag.
gressive backsliders? Is It proposed e
place the municipal government 81
Honolulu in the hands of three com
missiUners appointed by the Governor
these commissioners to be vested will
authority to appoint the subordinate
official service? This would indeed ~
a most approved method of taking the
local government out of the hands Of
the people and charging the ofiicia
pap in the hands of the Chief Execu
tive and his friends.
Having shut out the people from {
voice in the administration of Homo
lulu, in what manner do the aggressive
backsliders plan TO dispose of the ont
side districts. Would they clothe Hilc
and Waikiki with District of Columbis
governments and thus further increas,
the power of the Governor? Would
they pool the taxes and leave to tn
outside districts what is left after Ho
nolulu gets its fill?
Is 1t a municipal government II
which the people have voice that thu
backsliders seek or is it reorgan!zet
Capitalization which shall increase tn,
power of Territorial officers and re
fuse the people their manifest rights
II it be true that the government o.
the District Of Columbia, established
in 1873, has such remarkable advan
tages over the general form Of city
charter in which the people command
and officials obey, why is 1t that in tn,
organization of cities during recan
years, and in the revision Of charters
the people of the States and Terri
tories throughout the Union Lave no
adopted this form of GENERALIZATION
now proposed by the aggressive back
sliders of Hawaii?