The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-08-07
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inuNh 10 commend " IN DIE anu wei
populated towns. and II Ia delightful I,
have the utilities which the wise ex
lpendlture OF large sumo OF publ,
money an. provide. who can help be
ing officially pleased at our correspon'
dents picture OF municipal Boston
Passing lightly away from the story OF
hordes OF ofiice-holders there, she tells
of free open air Thomas concerts
bubble baths, free lecture courses and a
library which contains not only much
that liz noble and beautiful in art but
is In itself n building where detail OF
window, arch and fresco, represent
modern artists at their best Then
there is Vienna. which has improved
the Danube from dozen channels
running between partially submerged
islands to straight new channel
bringing the river much nearer the
city, with proper depth and definite
banks, making convenient transfer FOR
the two hundred steamers and eight
hundred barges Of the Danube Steam
Navigation Company" And look at
what municipal government has done
for Paris.
To her magnificent sanitary system,
lriNalled school system, any city in any
stage of its career may turn for inspira-
ton. The great triumph OF the Paris
lsanltary system, In addition to the won
lderful sewer system, Is the fact that the
lefty Is thoroughly cleaned every day. All
garbage, waste, detritus. is collected and
lcGrried out OF the city every morning be-
fore $50 o'clock. Between and $3.50 the
lertire paving of the city. including side
lwnlks, cutters. open squares. alleys and
lccUrts and roadways. has been swept by
machine and hand, and much of II has
Ibcen scrubbed and disinfected In her
Department of Public Works there are
TRAINED men for parks, street and build
ling inspecticn-men who know the value
to great city of broad. beautiful streets,
beautiful parks and beautiful architect
lure. 1t has been complained that the
building regulations of Paris are too Sc
lNere, but these have made modern Paris
beautiful. The medieval town was lab
Iyrinthne tangle of narrow. dark and
Ifcul passageways and alleys The mod
err spirit has thrown the walls into
r1oats, to make boulevards and open
spa ces, has laid down broad and system
attic thoroughfares upon the tangle OF
haphazard passages. has provided illumi.
In8ticn, drainage, transit, and given those
appointments and convenicnccs which dis
til gush the well-ordered city of our day
from the formless old-time city. In this
brilliant nineteenth century task of re-
constructing cities In their physical char
acters, endeavoring TO give the visible
form to the outward body which should
best accommodate the expanding life
within, Paris has been the unrivalled
Header.
| In her school system the principle has
been laid down that the greatest interest
of the French Republic Is the future citi-
zen OF France. 1t then becomes of prime
importance to guard against physical de-
lGeuoration in its youth, as physical de-
generation Is the natural forei amer of
moral degeneracy. To this end there are
incorporated In her school system, soup
kitchens, baths. inspecting corps of ply
sic.ans, postal savings banks and a series
of ecoles in all branches of knowledge.
This Is the source OF the French product
Whether this be French china, French
Gale. French millinery. Lyons silks,
the masterpiece of dc Maupassant or n
nIillet. 1t is apt to be the best of its kind,
and has been achieved not by any con-
ldition of chance but by the best training
tile municipality can provide.
All this is fine; 1t Is, In truth mag
lnincent-but it does not precisely reach
the core of the Honolulu situation. nor
the Hilo situation, nor any other situa-
ton In these Islands. Here we have
a few small white communities which
are congested with races alien to the
American idea, races that know moth
ing about municipal reforms and care
| less-the one element having major
! ity of votes protesting to regard gov
eminent of any kind as a thing to
make salaried places for its friends,
not as an instrument of public good.
The small bands of white politicians
who presume to direct parties, take the
same view. outside of these classes,
and owing seYen-tenths of the proper
| ty, are white men who are satisfied
with the efficient and economical gov
eminent the Islands have now and
think ii better to make public improve
ments slowly, as they can pay for
them, rather than to undertake such
| things all at once and run the risk of
| having the necessary funds raided by
the tax eaters. These people are not
4 old -fogies or silurlans. They want the
Islands to grow In population and
wealth, but they know that If these
I fine municipal plans are adopted taxes
will mount to so high level that
white immigration will halt, True
many American cities increase taxes
without pauslng in the path of prog
! ress but that is because momentum,
or the influence OF railroads or mines or
something OF the sort, carries them on
| Besides, living Is so cheap in most
Mainland cities and the nssessable
property so vast in extent and variety
that taxes are not felt as they would
be here where taxpayers are few and
every article of merchandise and utll-
| ity liz high In price, Put up taxes In
Honolulu and Hilo and rents must
rise; the price OF everything sold In
rented stores must increase; and be-
fore long II win be so that an income
that would provide abundantly for u
family In the states could not make
strap and buckle meet in Hawaii,
/ Common sense teaches that the ex.
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