The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-09

district or Honolulu and the district OF
Kona
This very simple statement of what
was done at last nights meeting of the
Republican Charter Committee covers
the entire proceedings, which lasted
over three hours and which was marked
by one of the most acrimonious parlia-
mentary discussions ever witnessed
outside of the Legislative halls.
The majority of the Committee on
Draft did not prove to be backed by a
majority of the Charter Committee, but
being good parliamentarians they died
hard and it required five votes on prac-
tically the same subject matter to con-
vince them of the fact that they were
in the minority.
The key to the whole situation was in
the following offered by Mr.. Philip l..
Weaver and which was finally incor-
porated in the report of the Committee
of Draft as adopted:
1--WE recommend that the area or
boundaries of the proposed municipal
ity (of Honolulu) be confined to the
district of Kona as it now exists and
be known as the city and county of Ho-
nolulu. and that the Legislative branch
Of such municipal government be so
defined as to give to them the power
to define from time to time the area
within the district of Kona as to which
of those ordinances peculiar to thick
ly settled district shall apply
The last clause refers to fire limits,
paving limits, lighting limits, etc.
The Republican Charter Committee
was called to order at 7:45 last even
ing with the following members pres
ent:
j. H. Fisher, chairman; w. r. Sims,
secretary protein; J. A. Gilman. treas
urer; c. Bolte, J. H. Boyd, Geo. A,
Davis, A. V. Gear. G. L. Huddy, Enoch
Johnson, J. L. Kaulukou, L. L. Nc
Candies, e. A. Mott-Smith, Chas. Not
ley j. G.. Pratt, W. C. Roe, w. r. Sims,
Ed Towse w. o. Smith, T. McCants
Stewart, F. T. P. Waterhouse, P. L..
Weaver, C. NJ White, C. B. Wilson.
There was a wait of about five min
utes for Clarence NJ. White, on whose
account the vote on the question of the
evening had been largely postponed.
However. on Mr.. Whites arrival the
chairman of the statistics committee
desired to make a report and although
Mr. White already had the floor, the
tistics committee was first in order.
f. A. Mott-Smith, chairman of the
statistics committee, reported on the
cost of maintenance of government in
the districts of Kona and outside dis
tricts as well. The committee had first
proceeded upon the assumption that the
city would extend from the fertilizer
works at Kalihi to Kaimukui and from
80 h. Tor
works Part of the figures were for two
years and part for one year. Part
were based on actual expenditures and
part on estimated needs as put in by
the departments of the government.
Some of the figures are: Police, Homo
lulu, 500 600; outer districts, $500; pub
lie works. for the next two years, cur
rent for Honolulu. $S9s, 900; permanent
provements, Honolulu, $4,000;
outer districts, current and perma-
nent, $4,000: public health, Honolulu,
past year, 800. 365; outer districts, 81, 400.
Mr. Boyd of this committee stated that
the estimates for the next year would
be likely to be less on account of the
reduction in salaries in the Board OF
Health Public instruction, Honolulu,
one year. $500, 900; outer districts, $4,000.
A small parliamentary skirmish was
started over whether the committee
should be instructed as to whether
they should now confine their research
to figures for Honolulu proper or take
in the whole Island and the biggest
city on earth contingent scored one
defeat.
Clarence NJ White then read the fol-
lowing paper on the question of NUM-
cipal government and the proper boun-
daries of the city of Honolulu, which
embodies so much Of the sentiment OF
the meeting as finally expressed in the
vote that it is reproduced in full:
Congress has granted to the Hawaiian
Islands an Organic Act. We are now
citizens of a Territory and have entered
upon the probationary period preceding
Statehood Allowing for requisite popu-
lation, the duration of this period de-
pends upon ourselves. The test for State
hood is ability for self-government
Every territory starts with a Centralized
government appointed by the President
and his Governor. The people are en-
trusted with legislation within the lines
of the Organic Act. They are entrusted
with further power as they demonstrate
CAPACITY for its exercise. A territory be-
ing the childhood Of state, Congress
intends that it shall enter at once upon
its growth Before the government of a
territory can be entrusted to its people
they must demonstrate by schemes OF
local administration their qualifications
for larger administration.
While Congress has made provision for
Territorial Officers, 1t has left to our
own legislation the limits and details OF
their duties. The Capitalization pro-
vided for US is really temporary and
provisional. To assume otherwise would
be to assume that our citizens have not
the qualifications for self-government anc
that Hawaii is mere Colony. Central
iZation can never take us into Statehood
We must develop and demonstrate oul
capacity for the discharge of the high
duties of American citizenship before we
can have all its privileges conferred upor
us, To have our voices heard we must
make them heard. To maintain and sub.
nit to Capitalization is to admit in.
capacity.
Decentralization means progress, growth
and strength. Appointive officers are in
dependent of the electorate and therefore
not in touch with it. To have satisfac-
tory government We must have a respon
isible one,-one responsible to the great
majority which places 1t in power. Such
a government is the ultimate destiny OF
these Islands. Even the power now ex.
ercised by the President of the United
States will be transferred to our people
When? Why, when we have demonstrate
ed our fitness for the performance of tbs
z - tl,O -afr