The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-06-16
MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT
Difficulties Which
Must Be
Faced.
w. o. SMITH GIVES
VIEWS OF PLANS
Time Hardly Ripe for the Great
Chanses-Must Await DeveI-
opment Of Electorate.

Municipal government was the theme
which drew to the residence OF Mr.. w.
o. Smith. Saturday evening. a large at
tendance OF the members OF the Young
Mems Research Club. the principal pa
per being that OF the host. Mr. Smith
gave at length a discussion OF the va
rious forms OF municipal government
Beginning with Paris he showed the
coordination OF local and national con-
troll OF the city. citing Manchester. En-
gland. as a city where the limited fran
chise and property qualifications gov
ern the voters. and then turning TO the
general American type. where univer-
sal suffrage IS the rule. saying In con-
Guiding this section OF the paper:
1 THE American democratic form is
the average intelligence and education
of the voters is OF a high order. Even
with the standards OF the American
people great abuses and misrule have
existed In many cases."
| Mr. Smith read at length from the
Municipal Program. prepared by the
National Municipal League. two years
ago. showing the difficulties in the way
| of forming a system of municipal gov
eminent. In regard TO acting for these
islands he said the subject should be
approached dispassionately and the
best thought given to the subject.
While there are objections to the pres
emit centralized system no good citizen.
he said. would favor change unless IL
would promote the best interests of the
community. Referring to Americanism
he said:
THE basic American idea of govern
ment is to create and maintain a form
| OF government best suited to develop
i and protect the highest interests of
| the citizen and the community. Under
4 conditions existing generally through
out the country the populaC form OF
| city government with manhood suf-
| frage has>accomplished many good re-
| suits. But even the most ardent adj
vocate OF democracy cannot be blind
| to the glaring evils and abuses which
have existed under the system. Under
| the common American form OF city
/ government. and the political machin-
cry which IL has made possible and
fostered. the result has in many cases
been very far from government of
| the people. by the people and for the
people" but rather manipulation and
government by the scheming. skillful
few. In too many Instances the tyran-
ny and despotism OF the machine" has
| been Numerically opposed to true
American principles.
The establishment of a Territorial
government under the Constitution and
| laws OF the United States marked a
great stride forward along the line of
democratic-republican government in
| these Islands II Is still. however. in
It's infancy. and under the conditions
OF the population and results thus far
demonstrated. IL would appear pru-
o~nt that further time be given for ad-
Justment TO the new conditions. and
the development OF civic Ideals. before
another momentous step be taken.
IF experience shows that better re-
suits cannot be obtained in the affairs
OF the general Territorial government
With the present voting population.
then greater voting privileges and pow
ers should be withheld until the char
acter OF the voting population i'm
proves.
1T is to be hoped that In the near fu-
ture the major;-- OF the voters ~ this
community will sEow that progress has
leen made In their conceptions ct the
responsibilities and dignity OF Citizen
ship. and that additional STEPS may
safely be taken In the development OF
popular government"
During the discussion Mr.. Smith an
swered questions. saying among other
things that he would favor division OF
government first at Hiio and Honolulu.
before 10 was introduced elsewhere. He
said also that at first Honolulu would
have no property upon which to borrow
money. owfIg 10 the fact that all prop
erty rights lie In the United States and
surrender is hardly probable seeing the
manner In which the people have exer-
cised their SURFACES This would leave
the only funds those secured by using
taxes as security. He said a step might
be made by establishing local boards
Of works and schools TO try as an ex-