The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-01-18

1NlA at the meeting OF the Re-
publican Charter Commit
a - tee last evening at their
rooms in the Elite building. Very little
actual business was transacted as many
of the committees were unable to make
a report and were compelled to ask for
more time.
A. ". Gear was called to the chair and
as soon as the usual business relative
to the last meeting was finished the
report of the financial committee was
heard. l.. l.. McCandless, chairman,
reported that they had been able thus
far to secure pledges for about $500 and
he had no doubt but that the balance
of the amount required could be raised.
Continuing, he said: I'VE have seen
many people and find that number
object seriously to the idea of char
ter, at least for some time to come.
Many claim that they do not want
charter at all and do not wish to do
nate any money to further such an OBJ
ject. 1 saw one man who has been
liberal in the past and one from whom
1 fully expected material assistance,
but was much surprised to find that
he said, L would willingly give 500 to
have the municipal law put off for at
least two years, but l do not care to
give any money to aid 1t.
was he suggesting fund.-" inter
jected T. McCants Stewart.
Another person that / approached,
continued McCandess, told me that
we were spending time and money in
a hopeless cause and that all our ef-
forts would be Of no avail. 1 was told
that the charter would not be consid-
cred by the Legislature but before l
left him 1 succeeded in obtaining $50.
I believe that it would be advisable to
get more information from the people
before we draft the charter. Many
prominent men say that they don't
think that 1t would be passed at all.
l am free to confess that l have not
met with the success that had expect
ed and feel somewhat disheartened.
There are many things to be consider
ed before we go much further and we
should all give the matter very care
full thought"
w. o. Smith rose to argue the ques-
ton and cited his opinion that it mat
tered little what individuals thought
it was the people at large who were
to be considered.
This Is a matter which affects the
entire community" said Mr.. Smith,
land requires lots of thought and much
hard work. The work is of great value
to the entire community and we should
not shirk it. Other places and men or
great experience have given their time
and attention as we'll as their money
to this question and l say that when
we do have a city government let US
have a good one. Let us have good
one or have nothing at all. If we do
not be careful we will have govern
ment that will be burden to the COM
munity. Summing it all up think that
the report of the finance committee is
encouraging and that they deserve
great credit. 1t behooves us as earnest
men to draft the best charter we can,
and l believe that we are justified In
going ahead"
p. l.. Weaver gave as his opinion
that the question of the charter should
be allowed to pass over to the next
session of the Legislature. I'VE would
then be better prepared" he said, land
better able to offer suggestions of val
ue as the result of more careful
thought and preparation, and unless we
do give this careful thought we will
have nothing ready to propose, and we
want something positive; then even If
we lose we will have the satisfaction
of knowing that we have given the
matter thorough attention"
At this point the report of the finance
committee was dropped for a time and
the committee on statistics was called
upon. Through it's chairman, l.. A.
Mott-Smith, it asked for more time,
stating that it had been unable to OBJ
tain all the information required ow-
ing to the arduous duties imposed up
on 1t.
p. l.. Weaver, chairman of the literary
committee, submitted a long list of
books for the consideration of the body
and stated that through the courtesy
of the Young Mems Research Club
the members could secure valuable ref
erence matter at Mcclellan and Ponds
Office at any time. Another list of
books was mentioned selected with a
view of the matter in hand and were
of such an assortment that nearly
everything pertaining to the question
of charters In big cities could be found
All these are In the Honolulu Public
Library.
II. McCants Stewart had been fidget-
ing about in his chair for some time.
and rising to his feet gave vent to his
feelings as follows; what we want
In something definite. and something
definite we must have. The chairman
NJ the finance committee reports that
5000 has been secured. but he also In
Inmates that there is a string on that
5000"
II beg your pardon" spoke up Me-
Candless, there Is no string sou are
mistaken"
IN does not seem to me 10 be a
frllitlsss task, but when people say