The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-27
WHO HAS BEEN ioLEr


new system OF government and. in
some matters. was made mandatory |
upon this first session Of the Terri. |
toriai Legislature by the Organic Act7
Il vas always an understood thing
before even the event. that when an
ne1ation became a fact municipal gov
eminent by county and town units
would be one OF the natural corrol-
laries. From the time that de facto
government Of the islands hung out
the flag q annexation until the Or
ganic act completing the adoption q
Hawaii as American territory came
into force, everyone who gave any
thought 10 consequences knew that
when the change came the fiscal sys
TEN OF the country must inevitably
undergo a change amounting 10 a
revolution II means were TO be had
for meeting the needs OF local public
services. Under the various systems
OF those stages intervening between
the Monarchy and the Territory, Mr..
Dole had the entire control Of the
peoples affairs with few and slight
checks-because he dictated constitu-
tons and laws at will--upun his lib
erty Of action He had always law
making machine. OF one sort or n
other, ready at an hours notice TO
respond to his beck and call. Mr..
Dole was fully aware of the necessity
that would come with complete an
nexation for entirely remodeled rev
enue-raising devices. II he did not
have such a moderate degree of fore
sight for himself, there were those
about him, as well as critics outside
his circle, who often truly cast the
financial horoscope This is matter
Of easy recollection With regard TO
the inevitable accompaniment CT
municipal institutions TO the American
system when the country came under
such. Mr. Dole was equally as we'll
advised and complacently accepted
the foregone conclusion. This is
abundantly proved by his mentioning
the subject in his first report as Gov
ernor TO the Washington government
followed by his rather hesitating and
halfhearted commentator OF the sub
ject in his first message TO the Legis-
lature when il assembled.
Why. in view Of all the foregoing
facts. did not Mr.. Dole have some
well-considered measures of fiscal
policy and municipal government pre-
pared in time TO be submitted to the
Legislature at the opening of the ses-
sion? One who had done nothing but
practice governing for nearly eight
years-who had prior experience OF
several years as jurist in constituting
the laws-who had anteriorly in differ
ent legislatures helped to make laws
whose life profession is that of legal
science-yea, and who had developed
marked facility in making (and break
ingl constitutions-why, it may he
asked. did not The executive OF the
NEWBORN Territory of Hawaii with
such an abundant experience, muster
up the courage and industry requisite
10 formulate schemes Of legislation
upon these subjects OF admittedly
e. f,,,,,,~4o.,,n ~ - ~, 81. hs,,,
self unequal, for any reasons. to sp-
proach such tasks himself, why Gid
he not set the machinery under his
almost absolute command in motion
10 have the desired products turned
out9 Surely there was material in the
land which. out Of sympathy with Mr..
Dole's ideas OF active interest in tue
country's welfare, would have been
available for one or two commissions
to carry out those high and momen-
tous purposes. Yet not . sign vas
made in this direction. Mr.. Dole sim
ply drifted along with his varied co1n-
cas- until the day approached for the
Legislature to address itself 20 the
weiEhty problems given It 10 solve by
the people OF the Territory and the
sovereign estate OF the National Con
gress. Then the Governor evolved 8
body OF advice to the Legislature IN
the proportions OF an ounce OF vague
suggestion TO a pesnd Of generalfties
OF no practical value. II is adding
insult TO injury for the Governor now
TO u1braid the Legislature one
member Of which knew before the
night OF November that any respon-
sihisity other than that OF a private
citizen was to weigh upon his shoat
ders-for the harrenness Of the ses
sion
The Smplacable indictments owe,