The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-28
COUNTY Government ACT.
THE BILL THAT Is NOW IN THE
HOUSE.



the biggest bill of the session so far and
is thought by many people to be the
most important. 1t is to 90 into effect
on June I next if passed so that, if the
Home rulers succeed in getting it
through, the time for making the vast
changes it coutemplates in local govern
ment is not far off.
The Act divides the territory into five |
counties, the counties of Kauai, iuclud- !
ing Niihau; Oahu Maui including Molo- !
kai Lanai and Kahoolawe; Hilo, inClud- |
ing Hilo, Puma and Kau districts and |
Kamehameha, including Hamakua |
North and South Kohala, North and |
South Kona,
A board Of county commissioners is
established in each county and the fol
lowing officers are provided for County
treasurer, clerk, registrar Of deeds, attor
uey, surveyor, sheriff, coroner, superiu
tendent of public instruction, and pro-
bate judge. IN counties of less than FIVE
thousand population, if there are any,
the offices of registrar and clerk are to
be consolidated,
The county commissioners are TO have
general management Of the affairs of the
county, receiving reports of the county
officers, supervising finances, etc. They
are to hold Office for two-year terms
Salaries Of the various county officers
are fixed as follows per year: County
clerk, $500; sheriff, $500 treasurer,
S., 500; registrar ofdeeds, $500; probate
/ Judge, 81, 500; surveyor, s., 500; coroner,
| 81 600; assessor, 81, 200; superintendent
Of public instruction, s., 600; county COM
missioners, $40 per day while actually
engaged i'll county business, Is days be
/ ing the longest regular session Of the
board provided for and $50 extra for
their work as members OF the Board of
Equalization. The county attorneys
salary is to be fixed by the commission
ers, within the following limitations: not
over 81 200 in counties of 1000 or less
population; not over ST. 500 i'll counties of
between ten and twenty thousand popu-
luauon; not over $4,000 i'll the larger
counties.
The county officers are all elective,
vacancies to be filled temporarily by the
commissioners. Provisian is made for a
deputy clerk and registrar and deputy
sheriffs, salaries to be fixed by the COM
missioners. Fees of the county officers
are provided for in a long chapter of &c
sections, specifying sums to be charged
for all kinds of services i'll recording
papers, issuing documents, serving writs
etc, provision being made i'll most cases
that the fees are to be turned into the
county treasury.
Cities, towns and villages are provided
for i'll chapter IL, which begins as fol
lows: "All cities towns and villages o
communities of people residing in com
pact form in this territory, having
population of over 1850 inhabitants, a
shown by the last census taken thereof
and residing upon land plated into lot
and blocks (smalD upon taking effect c
this act, become municipal corporation
and be governed by the provisions here
of, upon compliance with the provision
of this act And all cities, towns, vi
; lagos or communities of people in thi
territory that shall hereafter attain
such population shall, upon snch popl
lation being ascertained by the officer
thereof, and i'll case they are without co
porate authorities then by persons the
may select for the purpose and certifie
to the chairman of the county comm
s1oners, be by him declared, by procli
nation, to be cities of the first class
The bracketed word, shall, will be niue
discussed and "may" is possible subst
tute.
City officers to be elected at the fir
election, which is to be called by til
chairmad of the county commissions
upon petition from majority of the vo
J ers, are mayor, city clerk, police judg
treasurer attorney, assessor and eigl
councilmen. These are to serve unit
the first annual election i'll the city.
- Elections are to be held annual,
- though the officers hold Office for tN
years. Four councilmen and four men
bers of the school board are elected ever
Int t1,a eff, 81,
every two years. There is to be OF
member of the school board from eac
ward.
IN In addition to the officers named it
I'd provided that the mayor shall appoin
by and with the consent of the council
a city marshall and street commissions
an assistant city marshal, city enginee
: city physician and such policemen al
other officers as the mayor and the cou
Gil may deem necessary. The appoint'
officers are to hold Office until their su
cessors are chosen and qualified.
Salaries of city officers are all to
regulated by ordinance of the counc
provided, however, that no councilmi
shall receive over 81, 200 for his servic
i'll one year. By a majority vote, Il
council may remove for cause any ofic
except the mayor
The powers of the mayor are the usu
ones of veto and he may cast a decidii
vote when the council is equally divide
With the council he has control of t
police and other departments.
The marshal is to be chief of polio
and i'll the discharge of his duties he is
be subject to the orders of the may
only.
Towns are provided for, to be Great
in much the same way as cities,
smaller communities. They are to elC
trustees and a clerk, marshal, assess
treasurer and justice of the peace.
School districts are to be made by
county superintendent of public instr
ton, each city of the first class being
district in itself The districts are
have boards of directors, who will ha
charge of the schools and two memb'
of the school board are to be clerk a
racDartiuaIxy