Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-02
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

The free and general discussion of
all topics that will come before the
electors next November is particularly
desirable at this time. With this end
in view the Sunday Bulletin begins
today the publication of two drafts
OF charters tending to the institution
of county and municipal government.
and a general criticism OF them is in.
vited in these columns. fhe more
| they are read and the more they are
discussed, so much the more intelli.
gently will the voters be able to
decide at the polls upon the legisla-
tive candidates whom they may desire
to elect as fayoring or opposing mu.
nicipal government.
This is the only American Territory
in which county and city government
have not been established. II Is the
political issue oil the day and, as II
comes to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as
an entirely new issue, its early ventila'
tion and discussion are the more desir'
able. Anyone who has lived on the
Mainland is perfectly well aware that
State or Territorial government has
no more to do with the collection of a
dog tax than the Governor has with
the pay of a pound-master, yet both
stand today within the functions OF
the Territorial administration. The
latter should be confined strictly to
the execution of the instructions and
wishes of the Federal Government.
acting as a medium between local and
national affairs. collecting information
and statistics regarding the Territory
and advising upon its requirements.
Comparative figures presented in
this issue between the cost of the
Territorial Governments of New Mex.
leo and Hawaii, with populations ap-
proximately close indicate what the
cost of this Territory's administration
should amount to. The ponderous and
incompetent wheels of government
now revolving from the Capitol build.
| ing are q far too costly machinery and
should be curtailed, even under exist.
ing circumstances, to the public adyan-
tage. An idea of the possible Terri.
torial salary reductions, under county
and municipal government, is given
elsewhere. II is not claimed that II
is strictly accurate, but 1t serves as an
idea for voters to learn what proper,
ton of the taxes will be disbursed by
the different cities and counties out OF
the moneys collected locally for local
improvements and necessities. And
the chances are that a more economic
administration oil affairs can be estab
lished by local bodies that are well
versed in the needs of their several
localities.
There Is one point of serious impor
lance to this Territory. The Federal
Government has absorbed the former
Provisional Governments debt OF 81
O00,0 900. At the same time an annual
revenue of $1.000,00O has been taken
from the Territory through che loss in
Customs collections. Practically moth.
ing has been done to draw the atten,
ton of the Federal authorities to this
heavy loss of revenue and to the eX
Ceedingly high rate of taxation now
levied in this Territory per capita oi
population. II no relief can be secur
ed then we must cut our cloth to suit
our purse. There are certainly sew
eral items OF expense now chargeable
to the Territory which rightfully be
long to Federal expenditures. II II
worth while trying TO effect a transfer
In these bills payable. We shall gel
nothing without asking.
The Bulletin wants to see this ques
ton of county and municipal govern
ment freely discussed in all its phases
and for this purpose its columns arc
thrown wide open. The sooner the
change comes the better. With g
good practical working mayor in Ho
nolulu, this citys affairs will be inf
nitely better administered than they
are under existing conditions.