The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1901-02-25

carpentry, harness making, Tin WORK
and sewing only There Is little oppor-
tunity for teaching them agriculture.
If this plan is carried out it is pro
posed to use the keformatory School
premises for an industrial school for
girls, which is much needed.
Such changes in the laws as are ne
cessary to effectuate these projects
should be enacted.
There is a small number of children
scattered over the Territory who are
ineligible for admission into the public
schools on account of their inability to
pass the required medical eXamina-
Ions Some provision should be made
for the education of these children.
AS their number is small in any To-
cality. it may be impracticable to pro-
vide instruction for them at their
homes. There does not seem to be any
insurmountable objection to legislation
that would gather them at some place
or places according to their numbers,
and provide them with instruction
and careful medical attendance, as
well as food, clothing and lodging.
Such plan would be in their own and
public interests. The matter is most
important; the government cannot
leave these children to grow up in ig-
norance and neglect without deserving
the severest censure.
The report of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction contains interesting
information in regard to the develop
ment of manual training schools. This
feature of public instruction is worthy
of hearty support.
Your attention is invited to the prop
osition of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction that the department be re-
lieved of the work Of furnishing school
books to school children. have grave
doubts of the advantage of such
change. The question to be considered
is how pupils, particularly those in out
of the way districts, would be affected
by it, rather than the convenience of
the clerical force Of the department.
The suggestion of this report favor
| ing the establishment of school libra
ries is admirable, and should have leg
| islative assistance. With moderate
appropriation for this purpose at each
session, such libraries would grow
| steadily and soon become in each dis
trict a most favorable influence toward
| taste in reading, a knowledge of the
| English language and growth in per-
| Gonal character.
Congress has conferred on the Leg
| islature authority to create counties
and town and city, municipalities with.
| in the territory and ID provide for the
government thereof.
| This is an enterprise requiring for
its success a high degree of patriotism
and civic intelligence. Careful study
of local conditions and the experiences
of other communities in the creation
and administration of municipal cor
porations are necessary to safeguard
the country against costly mistakes.
Many problems will arise in the con-
sideration of such legislation that are
difficult of solution, calling for sincere
| deliberation.
There are important questions to be
weighed by you in the consideration of
this subject. Should such local gov
| ernments be established in commune
| ties that do not ask for them? Should
| the whole area of the territory be oc-
| cupied by such governments, or should
| experiments be made in one or two To-
calities before going further? What
will be the approximate burden of the
aggregate taxation of the city or coun-
| ty and the territory on the tax payer?
| How will the small proprietor be af.
| fected by such combined taxation, and
| by the probable greater stringency of
municipal regulations? These ques-
lions are better answered before than
after the character of such corpora.
lions is finally settled.
| Probably the most satisfactory meth
cd of comforting such privileges is by
means of general statute, stating the
| 30 Ii .,,l1
ment of such governments, and the
principles and limitations to be rec
ognized in their organization, under
which any community within the con-
| ditions may proceed to acquire corpo-
rate existence whenever it shall so
| desire,
Should the Legislature find itself un-
able, at this session, to agree upon
satisfactory legislation in this matter,
1t would doubtless facilitate the pro-
gress of the work in the future IL It
should make provision for the appoint
ment and adequate pay OF commits
sion of several persons to prepare a
| general scheme for both county and
city government, and report to the
next regular session of the Legisla-
ture.
! The executive is in correspondence
Federal Government in regard to the
temporary services of an expert for
ester to examine the forests OF the
territory, and advise the Government
on questions pertaining to their preser-
walton, the need of reforesting, and the
extent to which decreasing may be
safely permitted. The Bureau favors
sending one of it's own skilled forest
ers as soon as one can be spared. The
territory will, however, be required to
pay his expenses and a reasonable sal.
| ary An item has been placed In the