The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-25
RULING
Mayor Should be Given
Large Powers.
Interesting Lecture on Municipal Gov
eminent Last Evening by
7. McCants Stewart.

T. McCants Stewart delivered an able
and interesting address at the. Young
Mems Christian Association last even
ing, under the auspices of the Triangle
Club, on municipal government, treat
ing especially the subjects of mayor,
city attorney and elective officers.
Many persons were present and the
speaker held the earnest attention or
all during his extemporaneOus remarks.
After an explanation of the term
municipal" and an illustration of what
constitutes a charter, Mr. Stewart went
into the history of municipalities, show
ing very clearly how they came about
from the city governments OF early
days.
"A municipality is free city," said
the speaker, "a community which is
practically self-governing. Municipal
tiles are the outgrowth of the exper-
fences of the great cities OF the ages.
The noble cities which graced the banks
of the Nile when Ethiopia led civiliza
ton have lent their experience to the
formation of the latest form of city
government, the famous cities of Greece
have stamped their character indelibly
upon the modern municipal fabric and
Rome, the greatest of ancient cities has
furnished a model for the building of
the system OF today. The cities of an
cient days gave way to the medieval
towns and they in turn have brought
about our modern metropolises. Each
era passed on to the next its sum total
of experience and each period benefit
ed by the trials of the one preceding
so that we see today such great NUM-
CAPABILITIES as New York and San Fran
cisco, the outcome Of all preceding
ages"
London was referred to az the first
great city OF modern days and the fact
was emphasized that il was only after
generations of struggle that London
wrested from royalty the right TO gov
ern herself
When the United States gained her
independence" continued Mr.. Stewart,
there was inaugurated a system of city
I government entirely new in history.
/ This was manhood suffrage and. as
some one has well said. Under the
genius of the American democracy,
every citizen is king
THE first step in the enlargement of
\ the freedom OF American cities was the
giving to the mayor the right to veto
/ any act passed by the Legislature
"
Brooklyn, according to- the speaker,
was the first American city given the
| privilege of managing her own affairs.
/ Turning the trend of his discourse to
| bear directly on Honolulu, the speaker
delivered himself in brief. as follows:
The Territorial bill will shortly
grant to Honolulu a charter and the
city will then govern Itself. Now the
question Is, how are We to proceed TO
get that charter? There are several
modes of procedure. First the citi-
Zens of Honolulu can themselves make
a charter. Meetings can be held in
different portions of the city and del
/ egates elected TO a convention where
a charter can be drawn up and sub
/ mitted TO Washington TO be acted up
on. The Research Club. the Social
Science Club or the Triangle Club
could frame a charter and submit It Ia
/ Congress. There is no limit on the
people here as to their submitting
plans for the government under which
they are to live.
Then, again, a number OF leading
men, such as Cooke. Anterior. Fisher
and Tesla, might be named and the
| Legislature asked to appoint them as
a commission to frame a charter. This
was done in New York when such men
as Seth Low and General Tracy were
members of the commission"
In the opinion of the speaker. the
Mayor should be to the city what the
President is to the country. He should
have large powers and should be
elected for term of two years. unless
not allowed to succeed himself IN Of
/ flee, when his term should he for three
years. IF he serves the city we'll" de
ciared Mr.. Stewart, "a wreath OF laur-
el leaves should be placed upon his
brow; If he fails TO do his duty he
should be dashed out of Office"
Further remarks were to the effect
that the Mayor should have the righ
to appoint the city attorney and the
heads of departments.
Il believe in the concentration o.
executive power" the lawyer resumed
mot of judiciary power, mind you, bu
of executive power. We must hav,
someone who can be held responsible,
il anything goes wrong. If we get q
strong man for Mayor, let him have ar
opportunity to successfully manage af
fairs, with his hands Embossed"
Many questions were put to the
speaker of the evening after he had fin
ished his discourse, all of which Mr.
Stewart answered with his character
istic courtesy and ability.