Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-26
HAWAIIAN i'PROBLEMS
City and County Government
a Perplexing Matter.
LEGISLATURE TO ACT
A RADICAL cHAFeH TO REACH
MUNICIPAL BASIS.
New Law Will Probably Be Framed
After the California
Model.
Decial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
HONOLULU, Hawaii. December Is, 1902.
The second legislature Of the territory Of
Hawaii, which meets in this city next Feb
ruary, has before 1t task of much diff
Guilty. 1t will be called on to consider bill
providing for county and municipal gov
eminent, and there appears to be but little
doubt that some plan will be adopted.
The extreme difficulty Of formulating q
scheme Of local self-government, and the
important changes which will be effected
by such measure, are recognized by all
residents Of the islands. At the recent spe-
cial session Of the territorial senate. called
for the purpose of considering appointments
to office, subcommittee was appointed to
draft measure. In addition to this COM
mittee there Is another commission at work
on the matter, appointed by the business
men Of Honolulu.
In February, 1901, a bill providing for
county government was passed by the home
rule legislature. 1t never became a law,
owing to Gov. Dole's refusal to sign 1t.
The governors action was attributed by
the home rule party to his disinclination to
have his power curtailed by local self
government. The bill itself. however, was
SO plainly incomplete and Inadequate that
every one, save bitter partisans, justify the
governors action. In fact, it is conceded
that had the measure become law, condi-
tons here would have been nothing short
Of chaotic.
During the last campaign, both parties
were pledged to county government. AS the
republican party carried both branches -
the legislature, the governor will be called
on to sign bill passed by his own party-a
prepared and passed only after much DELHI
GRAFTON. That the governor will sign such
a bill there can be but little doubt.
A Difficult Problem.
To one living in "the states," the state
ment that this task is a difficult one would
appear to be slightly ridiculous. Indeed, to
people who have liven in 1.-The states for
years, the question would seem to be quite
simple. A brief consideration of conditions
in the islands. however, will demonstrate
that the undertaking Is by no means an
easy one.
A legislature made up Of men who have
practical knowledge OF the various schemes
Of county and municipal government, and
who at the same time are thoroughly ac-
quainted with conditiens here, with the ca
pacity of the majority Of the people for self
government, with their wants, would be an
ideal one at this time. But the men best
acquainted with the people and the islands
are men who have gained that knowledge
by long residence here, and who have had
no experience whatever as to local self
government. And the men fresh from the
States, who have7hved all their lives where
mayors and county officials are chosen regu-
larly at elections which are oft-times
contest, men who could draft county bill
almost without consulting book. know
little or nothing about the people of Hawaii.
1t is to the credit Of both classes, how
ever. that recogniznga the faet that the
heads together and are hard at work to
produce the transformation with as little
friction and as much order as possible.
A Revolutionary Change.
A change it will be, indeed. The estab-
lishment Of counties and cities, with county
boards Of supervisors and sheriffs and
county recorders and auditors and mayors
and aldermen and dozens Of other officials.
This is a community which never had
county or city or sheriff or a mayor
and the large majority of the inha bitants
of which never lived where such divisions
and such officials existed. To many of the
people it means a revolution.
At the present time all matters relative
to the government Of Hawaii, even to the
smallest details, are conducted from Homo
lulu All bills are paid here; all instru-
ments affecting the title to lands are re-
corded here; all roads and bridges and
wharves are kept In repair by orders is
sued herein fact, the government is here
in the islands cannot be communicated
with in less than week. the difference
between the form of government here and
on the mainland can be appreciated.
In putting into effect the local self-gov-
eminent law, nearly all Of the laws in ex-
istence require remodeling. In Honolulu,
called by courtesy city" the police de-
partment, the fire alarm system, the cleo
trio lighting system, the water system. the
issuance of licenses, the grading Of streets
and a thousand and one other matters are
all in the hands of territorial officials. To
transfer them to appropriate county or city
officials and to provide for their regu1a-
ton by these new officials in line with the
ton.
The Tax Question.
Another puzzling problem is as to the
levy, assessment and collection of taxes
For years the rate Of taxation, the method
Of arriving at valuations, the manner Of
collection and all details have been fixed
by law on plans radically differing from
those which will be rendered necessary by
county government. 1t will not be aston
ishing should the legislature of Hawaii fall
short of perfection on a subject which has
demanded most careful study on the part
Of every American state.
The care, maintenance and establishment
Of roads, bridges and wharves is subject
concerning which there wia undoubtedly be
much discussion. At present all of these
matters are directly under the control Of
one officer, the superintendent of public
works, who, under the terms Of Hawaiis
organic act, acquired all Of the powers for
merly held by the minister of the interior
These extensive powers made this officer
one Of the most influential in the territory.
Their distribution among county and city
officers will be an absolutely new phase in
governmental affairs here.
And SO on down through the list. The
government Of schools the care of prison
ers; the prosecution Of criminals: the reg
icfr If fba