The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-01
OUR GOVERNMENT IS
| 0HE MIN POWER
Judge Harrison, of
Minnesota. Studies
Conditions.
KD Or MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
HONOLULU SHOULD HAVE The
POWER TO ACT Ex-
cLUsIyELY.
HEED OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Noted Jurist Sees Much TO Hope For
In the Future Of Hawaii. But Says
Our Present Status Is Far From
What Il Should Be.

Among the tourists who are visiting
he Hawaiian Islands this season are
Judge 4 N Harrison and wife OF Min
neapolis. where the Judge is one Of the
presiding officers Of the District Court.
M Harrison has been Obliged. ten.
por1rily. 20 seek a miider climate
Than that % his home and. for the
time being. forego active work in his
profession. While here. Judge Har.
ris1u has been making a study OF our
local form Of government. When ask
n what the result Of his observations
lad been. be said.
The people Of the Territory Of
Hawaii have as good a government as
they can expect lor the kind Of gov
erument they have. Its great fault, it
seems 90 me lies in che fact that it IS
too much q oue-man power. The gov
eZuur OF the islands has the initial and
The final say in everything from Kauai
IN Hawaii To a people used TO q
rHonaTchical form OF government this
Is. no doubt. more agreeable than hav-
ing many officers. each OF whom pre-
sides over a limited portion of the
political interests Of those governed.
Understand. my criticism is not a per
Eoual one. am casting no reflections
Hgou the governor of Hawaii territory
as an individual My criticism is
rather directed at those who have
placed him in Office. All things con-
Sidered. ! must say that he shows re-
markable foresight and familiarity
with existing conditions, and won
agrful ability in meeting such prob
lens rs come before INN for solution
But however capable he may be. it is
impossible 10 expect the same results.
we're the executive function distribut-
cd among half a Qozen officers, each
with his own particular duties.
I doubt il there is anywhere in
the United y,ates another city the size
Of Honolulu, with all the natural ad-
vsIntaEes II possesses and all that has
been done for II in the way of inn
proyoments by public spirited citizens.
that Is so poorly governed. To speak
exactly Honolulu has no government
at all. Here is a city Of 10000 inhab-
tauts which certainly needs special
legislation. Were the city a munich
palitv. these wants could be easily
attended 10. As q. is. the city is fore
70 90 wait upon the pleasure OF the /
governor. who already has his hands /
fUU attending TO the general needs 4
and wants OF n young. vigorous and 1
rapidly growing terrtory. Uutil the
CTuc comes when this city can act ex-
clusively. the best results for its de-
vClopment can never be attained.
These things. 7 am sure. will come
in time. They must. There is TO
alternative. The ability TO govern
and TO be governed is in progress Gf
evolution here. and Is not only grow
ing stronger. hut 1t already shows
signs Of diferentiating The prob
lens Of local government have been
solved in all Of the States on the Nam
hzud successfully. and I have no doubt
that thew will also be met in the same
manner in the Territory of Hawaii
Judge Harrison and his wife leave
for san Francisco on the 18th of Febru-
ary. They VIII not return TO their
home Immediately. but will travel UNI
tI the latter part OF March. His Hon
or expects 10 be able TO resume his
place on the bench by April l. I
which time the next term in the Dis
trict Court OF Minnesota will be open
ed.