Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-03-09
REPORT ON The CHARTER

At a meeting of the Republican char
ter committee last evening, there were
fourteen members present. The prin-
cipal business of the evening was the
reading by w. o. Smith of the following
report of committee on draft:
Colonel j. II. Fisher, Chairman Charter
Committee.
Sir:--The undersigned members Of
the subcommittee appointed to prepare
draft of charter, or act of incorpora'
ton, for the City and County Of Ho-
nolulu, respectfully present their re-
port.
After the appointment, on the goth Of
December last, the committee proceed
ed to consider plans for a municipal
government which in their opinion
would be suited to existing conditions,
that there were no special statutes "
. the Territory governing the establish
ment OF such organizations; and no
such governments had heretofore been
created in these Islands; and the con
ditions were unique, presented features
which in some respects added to the
difficulties of the case.
After "a discussion Of the provisions
which were deemed of chief import
: ance. the committee engaged G. A. Da-
D Wis. Esq. a member of the committee.
to prepare draft of the proposed Act;
a and T. McCants Stewart. ESQ.,. another
e member. on his own behalf also prepar-
= ed a draft.
@ Both of these drafts we're before the
: now submitted to the General Commit
tee has been prepared, and we herewith
:, present the same for consideration.
Il The drafts prepared by both Of theaa
gentlemen followed the same general
plan in most particulars. but different
in detail. The draft prepared by Mr..
: Stewart was. however, largely fol-
= lowed.
The draft now presented after defin-
ing the boundaries OF the City and
II County of Honolulu. and Of the wards
" and precincts. prescribes the form oi
government and then provides some
y what in detail for the powers and du-
ties Of officers.
l. 1t will he observed that an effort has
u been made to follow. in many respects,
n the provisions of the existing laws ot
}. the Territory.
h Upon the following subjects the pro-
vision of the present laws have been
n namely:
l. Department of Finance.
Auditor and Public Accounting.
n Police Department and Coroners.
Sales and Leases of Public Lands.
Highways.
: Department of Water Works.
3 Fire Department.
II Department Of Taxes and Assess
%, ments.
Department of Public instruction.
Department of Health.
Election Laws.
-, The committee believe 1t better, &C
-. far as feasible, to folio wthe methods
and regulations with which the com'
munity is familiar rather than unne
cessarily to present new and untriet
~ schemes.
~ Among the new subjects presente:
20 are provisions for:
- Department of Buildings.
!" Department of Parks.
y Law Department and Corporation
Counsel.
III Granting of Franchises.
NJ District and City Courts.
he Income Tax.
H. The draft of the Act presented Il
lr open 10 criticism. The members of tn
is committee do not consider 1t inishe,
work. Had there been more time, an,
IL the circumstances less urgent, W
ne would have again revised 1t, correcto
~ some errors which have crept in. an,
a altered somewhat the order of the sub
III iects. a more clear division Of tn
o. topics could have been made, and al
index prepared.
in The work has been pursued undo
|, difficulties. The time for meetings ha
n. heen taken from busy hours and a
N night. The committee has held twsn
bo ty-seven regular meetings besides
in many conferences.
m Before closing this report, We woul
call attention to the provision In see
zion 81 Of the draft page 20), relating
to the administrative departments il
said City, or as many OF said depart
-, ments as the Mayor and Board OF Al
=, dermen may organize by appointin
the heads thereof" The pur
-, pose being not 10 compel the City /
take over certain departments unli
prepared to do so. For instance.
might not be convenieL or advisable
'it Immediately upon the Act becomin.
D. operative, to take over the Department
~ Of Public instruction.
Al Anticipating the criticism that to-
ed much of detail has been attempted
a that some OF the matters incorporate
he should be left to be covered by ordi