The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-01-11
WHOLE ISLAND"
CITY VOTED DOWN
Republican Charter Committee Has
a Hot Session.

cd our fitness for the performance Of the
duties incident to the exercise OF such
powers.
When shall we take this initial step7
] say-at once. Government II not on
theoretical but also practical. II th-
press OF this country were to TEEN with
literature on the theory of government
and the land to be flooded with essays on
wise administration Congress would not
he impressed with our qualifications for
sclf-goVernment. Such treatises won
be mere Individual emanations The
standard sought is not the high order OF
the Individual, but rather the high order
OF the average. And this standard must
be demonstrated and proven by practi'e'
1t is one thing to expound doctrine
another to carry them into practice.
Capitalization should give away because
IL is nimcal to American progress. II
is unwleldy and cannot adapt itself 10
growth. Not deriving its powers from
the people IT cannot be in touch with
their requirements. 1t is n species or
yice-royalty not in line with the majority
rule which has brought the United states
to the front among nations. If not
usurpation of II, II is at least sub
stitution for true popular sovereignty. A
campaign for decentralization is the duty
of the hour. We should inaugurate II at
once, and inaugurate it in the only prac-
tcable manner open to us in consonance
with the Organic Act. While we remain
in territorial condition, 1t Is not pos
sible to acquire fun governmental con-
troll. We cannot replace the officers. but
we can ahrdEe some Of their duties.
! I hold IL to be an unwritten command
of the genius of American institutions.
higher than any Congressional enact
ment yet not inconsistent with 1t, that
we should Immediately assert ourselves
and enter upon an era of self-government
so far as possible Full territorial con-
t.f,, g.1.1 Lat
us assume such control as is within our
reach.
A county is the American unit of a Ter
ritory. The territory does not consist OF
one but of several such units. The coun-
ties should, we claim, be provided for
by one general act. I am opposed to
the scheme proposed by the majority Of
this Committee, because it would make
our own County pioneer of units. leav-
ing others to wait and watch its SUCCESS
or to frame schemes of their own, which
might or might not be in line with our
own. If our erection of n county should
thus initiate conditions of inconEru'tv.
the gain for popular ascendancv would
be Invested largely of accruing benefits.
Let the crusade against Central eaton
he instituted by the surrender Of such
functions to all the counties as would
conduce to the general welfare. | have
my doubts as to this island by any act of
its own retaining portion of the taxes
from the territorial government IL the
other islands paid their full tax into the
treasury. I do not believe the legisla-
ture will provide for the erection of one
county. How could it consistently pass
a law exempting this Island from por-
ton OF taxes, and at the same time en-
force the collection Of the entire tax from
the other Islands?
/ A scheme OF decentralization should
contemplate the transfer and distribution
of 70 oil hn toe ma nv
assumption of government by one section
not allowed to and provided for others
We contend that 1t is within the province
of this Committee to recommend the pas
sage of an act for general county organ
ization. If 1t is argued that the Commit
tee was appointed to frame a charter for
the City of Honolulu: I would reply that
this appointment does not authorize the
erection of county on this island any
further than II does on all the group.
If we are working on county organiza-
ton, let us make the scheme general and
the counties simultaneous. Our work.
no matter how exhaustive, is but rec
ommendatory 1t must be reviewed by a
legislature OF the people. If the scheme
suggester by us is beneficial, there Is no
reason why Oahu should monopoize all
the advantages.
! If this Committee is authorized simply
and only TO frame a charter for the City
Of Honolulu, then It is competent for the
city to establish the limits of such city,
but not to incorporate County govern
ment with it, In the United States the
unit of a county is n township. A town
ship Is the space which a city may I'LL
timately occupy The majority report of
the Committee then would make Oahu
our township. 1t is beyond the stretch
of probability that Honolulu could ever
cover the whole Island. To make a city
government control larger area than 1t
iG In ne
efficiency.
I am In favor OF a City government
for Honolulu, because it would make
needed improvements which would en-
nance values to such an extent that the
extra taxation necessary to accomplish
ment would be an insignificant factor
The payment of City taxes imposes a
judicious expenditure of the same. The
wants OF a city and county are not iden-
teal, and the area of city should he
confined to limits which demand side
walks, streets, etc. In my estimation, the
City of Honolulu should comprise the
populous portion between, say, the west
ern boundary of Kamehameha school and
the road on the east side of the Tram
ways stables, the sea on the south ard
q boundary line that would include Pacific
Heights and Punchhowl slope.
Although the county is the unit or the
territory, and the township of the cou0-
ty. n city Is not n unit Of either II
bears the same relation to the Territorio'
government as does Eva Plantation II
Is n corporation with separate officorr
separate taxes, separate ordinances nrd
is only amenahle to the general govern
ment as defined by its charter. believe
I'm general county organ'2a ton fret
We believe we should give county rov-
eminent a fair trial to see II the wants
of Honolulu are fairly met. II county
government should prove Inadequate 70
our needs then 7 believe city incor-
poratlon should he established. IT II re
the sentiment of the Committee, however
that charter should at once be secured
let us mako the limits ~ the citv cow
patlble with an efficient and equitable
administration OF its affairs
! Philip l.. Weaver who has made
quite a study Of municipal questions
and their application to Honolulu made
strong argument in favor Of restrict
ing the limits OF the municipnlity 20