The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-14
IS MADE N
DRAFT TING A
BILL
WORK is PROCEEDING ALONG
THE LINES POINTED OUT BY
THE REPUBLICAN TERRITORIAL
CONVENTION.

The committee appointed by direction
of the Republican Territorial conven-
ton to draft bills for city and county
government are hard at work and be-
lieve they are making considerable pro-
gress Following the direction of the
Republican platform on this subject,
the committee is devoting it's first ener-
ges to the drafting of a bill for the
establishment of counties throughout
the territory, the platform on this point
declaring for the establishment OF
county governments in Hawaii, model
ed after the most advanced and popu-
lar systems elsewhere"
AS a basis of work the committee has
secured copies of the laws relating to
county government Of almost all the
states of the American union. From
these the committee is having drafted a
synopsis of all the features that are
necessary in a county government, and
/ which must be adjusted to conditions
existing here. For instance the mat
ter of the assessment levying, collect
/ ing and distributing revenue in the sew
| eral counties so as to be in harmony
with the levying and collecting OF the
! territorial tax for territorial purposes
in the same counties and on the same
! property must be considered.
What public works should be retain
| ed within the control regulation and
! should be reegated to the several
counties, is another matter that is tak-'
ing up a good deal of the thought Of
the committee. This is adjusted in diff
ferent ways in different states, though
in none perhaps was there ever just the
same. conditions to be provided for that
exist here.
Another question is whether the regis
tration and recording of land titles
should be continued as at present eX-
clusively in Honolulu or in each county
for the land in each county. That is
whether there shall be one registrar OF
deeds for the territory or one for each
county.
Still another principle to be adjusted
is as to the forum in which litigation
> shall be carried on, whether in the
!, county in which the cause of action
arises or in the county where the de-
fendant may be found. On this ques-
tion there will probably be a division
of opinion among the lawyers based on
the locality where they live. The
country lawyers will probably want a
requirement that suits must be tried
in the county where the cause of action
> arises. as that will tend to increase the
: Importance and opportunities of the
bar of each county.
: The police and other peace officers
, from each county and their relation to
the police and peace officers of every
other counties one that has many de-
y tails to adjust. Road boards public
, health matters sanitary regulations re-
: garding contagious diseases and the bu-
! rial of the dead are all questions that
have to be considered.
: When the county bill has been finish
Il cd, the committee win take up the
: matter of municipalities as to which
the party platform demands the pas
: sage of "A general municipal government
y act by which such municipalities as SO
c desire may establish cities towns and
villages
The committee consists of w. O.
Smith a. G. NJ. Robertson, A. l.. C.
Atkinson, E. d. Tenney and George w
Smith.