The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-06

OF htluk utNeiopeu INTO ine beNi gov
eminent Instinctively free people
recognizes that self-government alone is
entirely compatible with freedom. As
long as they have self-Rovernment they
may have freedom, though they may
not have good or even economical gov
ernmcnt But when self-government is
absent freedom is impaired, no matter
how good or how economical the gov
eminent may be- Quietness and order
illness even combined with economy are
not the only desirable things in govern
ment Freedom is the chief thing. The
grave is quiet and the dead pay no
taxes But there is little freedom there.
So it is with city and county organi-
cation They do not necessarily repre-
sent either good government or econo-
mical government. But they do repre-
sent self government. In a city, or
county either. revenues may be waste
fully expended But it is the revenues
of the people of the city or county that
are so wasted And when the people
who suffer tire of the waste they can
put a stop to it.
The question therefore isnot primarily
one of good government nor Of econo-
mical government, but of self-govern-
ment City and county organization Is
a line along which the Anglo-Saxon in
stinct for self-government has de-
veloped itself It is inevitable therefore
that as Americans we shall have city
and county government or dwarf or ex-
tinguish our instinct for self-govern-
ment.
The question is therefore rather one
of the best organization of cities and
counties than of whether we shall have
them at all. On this men may honestly
differ and strive, earnestly and jealous
ly, and yet with the consciousness that
even if the best form is not secured, a
workable form will be.
Applying these principles to our pres
ent conditions let us see if the desired
end can not be obtained without the
confusion and waste incident to a
change from one system to better,
| which after all is the most potent factor
in disinclining men to a change though
| in reason and logic it is no argument
against such a change.
The primary object both of city and
county organization is self-government.
They bring those things which are of
local concern into the control of those
locally concerned. They are self-gov-
eminent reduced to it's lowest terms;
that is to local self government. County
organization is the more pervading and
inclusive of the two 1t includes every
rood of land and reaches every indivi-
dual in the territory. With county or
ganization the important subjects of
/ local public improvements with the
questions of taxation and the expendi-
ture of revenues therefor, would be
relegated to the localities and the peo-
/ pie who would receive the benefit of
them and should bear the burdens, and
bearing the burdens should have a
direct voice in all things concerning
| them. With the territory organized in
to counties the complaints, whether
/ just or unjust that Hilo and other
4 centers make. that Honolulu receives an
undue proportion of public improve
ments and governmental care would be
decently buried along with the claim,
whether justly or unjustly made, that
Honolulu bears more than her share of
the burdens of public improvements.
! County organization would give a
every locality and citizen in the terri
| tory.
! County organization is simple. Its
forms are we'll defined. There would be
little difficulty in securing practical
unanimity as to the form to be given to
county organization once it was decided
to have it. Relatively speaking the OPP
portunities for wastefulness of revenues
are extremely limited in county organi-
zation. It's effectiveness may vary in
different counties in proportion as the
efficiency of men vary. But nowhere
has it ever been a total failure, and
seldom has it fallen below fair efficiency.
The next Legislature, burdened as it will
be with many and serious problems,
could, without neglect of any other
matter, easily give us a county organi-
cation. A committee of each house,
taking up the matter early in the ses-
sion could easily by the middle of the
session report bill for this purpose
essentially satisfactory to every one
favorable to the principle of county or
ganization
City organization is not quite so easily
undertaken or carried out. Its forms
have not become so well defined or es-
tablished. Opinions differ redically as
to the best forms of city organization.
The subject is yet in the experimental
stage. Practical experience and acade-
mic discussion have not yet come into
agreement on many and important ele-
ments of the problem Such considera-
ton of the subject as would lead to
satisfactory conclusions can hardly be
expected of the next Legislature, per-
picked and burdened as it will be with
the great number of important matters