Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-16
Council May Investigate City
Officers and Departments
Whenever 1t Deems
Necessary.
Regulation Of Assessments.
Appropriations and Tax Levy
ing,---Proportional Represen-
tation In Elections.
ARTICLE v.-THE COUNCIL.

ARTICLE V.-THE COUNCIL.
Section Q. Councils powers Of in.
vestigation.
Section 10. Councils power to reg.
ulate assessments, levy taxes and
make appropriations,
Section II. Direct legislation; and
proportional representation in City
elections.
The Councils Powers Of Investigate
Section .. The Council or commit.
tee of the Council duly authorized by
1t may investigate any department of
the city government and the official
acts and conduct Of any city officer;
and for the purpose of ascertaining
facts in connection with such investi.
CATION, shall have full power to compel
the attendance and testimony of wit
nesses. to administer Oaths. to exam.
inc such persons as It may deem nee.
cssary, and to compel the production
Of books and documents. Wilful false
swearing In such investigations and
examinations shall be perjury and
punishable as such.
Councils Power to Regulate Assess.
ments, Levy Tsses and make
Appropriations.
Section IL. The Council shall pro.
vide by general ordinance for the ap.
praisement and assessment OF all
property subject to taxation and for
the collection and enforcement of tax.
as and assessments and for penalties
for non.payment thereof. Such taxes
assessments and penalties shall be a
lien upon the property affected there
by until paid. Provided however that
whenever so directed by the vote o.
a majority of all the registered elect
ors OF the city. voting on a question
involving the proposition-the entire
revenue requirements of the city shall
be met by a tax on land value. public
utilities and special privileges of what
ever kind or name.
All taxes shall be levied and appro
priations made annually. not more
than sixty days nor less than thirty
days before the date for holding mum
-
partments, that one finds in the Eng
lish system.
How American Systems Vary.
The American system varies in dit
ferent cities. Advanced Atlantic coast
cities are steadily Incorporating new
leading ideas from the great Cont
mental cities. The old.fashioned vogu,
In American towns determined tn,
choice OF mayor, heads of departments
and council at the polls. StandInl
committees were appointed by tn,
mayor. American reform In charter.
has run high during the last dozer
years. Municipal reformers urge ably
that the mayor is handicapped In ar
effective administration by not him
sell appointing the heads to the grea
departments in line with his ideas o
work. Many Of the recent and social
ed brilliant charters provide for tn,
appointing by the mayor OF all com
missioners and heads of great de
partments. Some of the recent char
tiers have dropped the feature OF ward
representation in the council and OF
the Board of Education. II Is appar
ent that upon the personnel OF the
, council and the heads OF such grea
departments as health, public improve
ments, education and finance rest tn,
effectiveness, to large extent, of mu
. nicipal organization, The centraliza
3 tion in the person Of tile mayor of 81
, much patronage as prevails In the new
3. American charters seems less desir
. able than resting the appointing pow
, or in the council. while more desirable
, In many ways than the fierce travail
/. of ward politics. The expert civil ser
| vice Is the undonbted goal.
Q God helps him who helps himself
. and Faith without works is dead
, The demonstration of energy by tn
American people during the fnRncia
( crisis Of n few years ago, when ys7
I 100000 left the country in one year
r larger sum than any community ha
p. been forced to part with under simila
r circumstances challenged the admire
=. ton Of the world, and has never bee,
y parallclcd America emerged from
/. her crisis, having in three years re-ol
r gani2ed her social system. undcrscllin
the world In steel. Mr. Carnegie says
I THE nation which can make tn
d cheapest steel has other nations at it
81 feet" So much for energy,
It Hawaii has her crisis, her great port
/. rormless, unsought infected III