The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-28
TWO GOVERNORS coNTRAsTEo.


is both a peace officer and public
but the apologist Govern
or. who as executive can set aside
laws that the executive wishes 10 have
broken. can see nothing wrong in this.
How different from the attitude Of
Governor Allen of Porto Rico who in
his message said. upon similar sub
ject: NO alcalde should have ju-
aicial power: his functions ought to
be administrative and executive. l
recommend the repeal of the order
which vested the alcaldes with power
to hold municipal court, by transfer
ring the authority to a police magls-
trate"
There is no hesitating or hating or
quibbling over the subject by Governor
Allen: he knew what he wanted to
recommend and recommended it.
The subject of municipal and county
government has been as important in
Porto Rico as in Hawaii. for in that
Island under the centralized rule of
Spain everything .was vested in the ex-
ecutiye lust as it has peen here in
Hawaii. Governor Allen of Porto Rico
met the question openly and fearlessly
saying what he thought upon it while
artful dodger Dole refers to it in an in
artful and vague way. The Republi-
can win pay a handsome reward to
any one who will tell us where the YER
tebrateless Governor of Hawaii stands
upon the question of municipal and
county government. Here is what he
said in his message on the subject:
Congress has conferred on the Leg
islature authority to create counties
aad town and city municipalities with
in the territory and to provide for the
government thereof.
This is an enterprise requiring for
its success a high degree of patrIotis:l
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
elaboration.
There are important questions TO be
weighed by you in the consideration of
this subject Should such local gov
ernments be established in communi-
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-
~ and the territory on the tax payer?
How viii the small proprietor be az
fected by such combined taxation, and
by the probable greater stringency of
municipal regulations? These ques-
tons are better answered before than
after the character of such corpora
tons is fully settled.
should the Legislature find itself IN
able. at this session. TO agree upon
satisfactory legislation in this matter
Il would doubtless facilitate the pro-
gress of the work in the future If il
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"
This il all glittering generalities. The
Governor. who should be named. Man
Afraid-of-His-Sha fails to either
urge or condemn the system. As is
usual with him ii is discussed" to
the disgust of honest men who be-
lieve in speaking ones opinion even
If il should turn out wrong. All men
admire honesty of conviction although
they may disagree with the conviction
set forth. Contrast this vacillating
and lodging statement of Governor
Dole of Hawaii on the subject of coun-
" and municipal government with the
open and frank and manly statement
of Governor Allen of Porto Rico in his
message. Governor Allen said:
The present laws are unsatisfac-
tory. There is no need Of the cumber-
some form OF government which now
obtains, without regard 10 the CLASH
ficstion of cities. 1t is expensive and
elaborate.
Il recommend revision OF the nu-
nicipal Law. so as to put cities into
two or three classes-say. for instance.
municipalities with 10000 or more
people are TO be OF the first class.
those OF 10000 and less than 2e.0eo. to
be OF q second class, and all others to
ba made towns. For the cities may
ors and councils should be provided.
while three commissioners may well
be intrusted with responsibility for
the welfare oil the towns. Such q sys-
tenn viii allow for less complex and
less expensive government
Subdivisions Of the island into
counties will he desirable These e.,h