Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-08-19
oHIo's MUNICIPAL CODE.

of the State. Ohio thus shows that
government for its cities and
towns is considered a matter of first
importance worth the price Of an ex.
ira session. This State has always
passed as quite exemplary in the ad-
of its municipalities, and
il is timely for Hawaii that II will
thus be enabled to profit by the wis
dom of advanced thinkers of Ohio who
supposedly will sift the wheat from
the Chaff and institute a municipal
code as nearly perfect as modern in.
telligence and legislative common
sense will permit.
The Ohio State government takes n
paternal interest in its towns, coun.
ties and cities. and in this respect
bears a close relation to what is he
fore this Territory, whose Legislature
must frame the general municipal law
or code for the people to follow in
shaping their plans for local self.goy.
eminent. The new code of Ohio has
been framed or revised by Governor
Nash, State Senator Longworth and
the Assistant City Counsel of Cincin.
natl Their work has been submitted
to a committee of the State Bar Asso
citation and the resulting measure will
be the basis of the legislative
action. The only detail of the bill
thus far made public is that the line
of demarcation between villages and
cities has been fixed at 10000 popula
ton. Further. It is provided that in
all cities between 10000 and 25.OOC
the council shall consist OF nine mem
bers, three elected at large on a gen
eral ticket, and six from councilman,
districts. In cities of greater populd
ton, the council is to be increased IL
proportion to population, but no more
than Ave members are to be elected
at large in any case.
On the question OF public franchise
/ the three members OF the revision
committee agree to disagree. and there
is no telling what Legislature vii
10. One proposition is to place III,
granting of franchises in any munici
/ plaity in the hands OF a commission
consisting Of the Auditor of State, til,
County Auditor. and the Mayor OF the
City, thus giving to the State, the
county and the city each voice in The
matter.
The Toledo Blade. referring to tn,
problem before the Ohio Legislators
says:
The situation may be compared e
stretch Of country through whiCr
two paths have been worn by ttavo |
ers. different in course, but both end
ing at the same point. Like the Ori 81
nal cOwpaths which are popularity sup
posed to have marked out the presen
streets OF Boston, both paths ar
crooked. and the traveller must eXpen.
more time and energy, no mate
which path he takes, than he woul,
had plain. straight highway beef
marked out by competent engineers
The problem before the extra sea
sion Of the Legislature is to do the lat
tcr-to abandon the cow-paths, ant
lay down direct road. To drop tn,
figure used for Illustration, II is no
necessary that either the federal plai
Both are makeshifts. Neither is TIA
best plan possible The question .
the proper government of cities Is
pressing one in all the more importan
States of the Union. and is not simpl.
an Ohio problem.
The General Assembly Of this Stat
has an opportunity to offer solution
Of this problem, II its aggregated wis
dom is equal to the task of preparing
a plan for municipal control that vii
overcome the evils from which the ma
jority of cities in the United States ar
suffering. The board plan divides rC
spOnsibility so that mismanagemcr
can not be brought home to any one in
dividual. The federal plan, as eXaT
plified in Cleveland, puts the city a
the mercy of boss, with increase,
taxes and the creation OF huge polit
iCal machine.
Ohio will doubtless have completct
4 its task long before Hawaii's LegislG
ture is ready for action the early Dar
of next year. Our officials and citizen
will do well TO keep in close touch WIT
the discussions and decisions OF tn
Presidential State on the all-absorbin
local topic of how to obtain all tn
benefits Of local self.govemment am
be free from the abuses of power q
corruption.
Connecticut finds itself on the verg