Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-23
mr.. DIcKBY's PLANS.

Representative Dickey's scheme for
municipal government is an interest
ing one. In consequence of the elm.
ination of county organization it is
thoroughly original but can hardly be
classed as practical. There is little
doubt that Mr.. Dickey's scheme would
increase taxation as 1t would practical
ly prevent the reduction in Territorial
official force and expense which com
plete municipal program makes GER
tain. 1t contemplates keeping intact
the present full Territorial machinery
for the government OF the country dis.
tricts whereas the complete municipal
plan will wipe out great many of the
present offices by the transfer of ad.
minjstration to the county and city
officials.
Take for instance the present Super.
intendent of Public Works. Under
county and municipal government the
duties of this officer VIII be assumed
by city superintendent of public
work and the county commissioners.
Under Mr.. Dickey's plan 1t will be nee.
essary to maintain almost, II not quite
all the present public works force
while the city of Honolulu will require
still another public works department
Mr.. Dickey seems to contemplate dup.
licating Offices with a vengeance and
the duties of the officers will be such
that they will have good reason to de.
mand good.sized salaries.
The Bulletin believes that the prac.
teal method and the money saving
plan for municipal government in this
Territory is founded in the frame work
as given by the experience and custom
of the United States. It means com.
plete local government for every city
and hamlet Of the Territory and that
is what should be sought.
Mr.. Dickey's reference to the special
| otsSiOH VI Nut itBlslhluIt anu hiS az
counting for the failure OF the loan bill
is also interesting. He gives reasons
for the failure of one of the most i'm.
portant laws of the last session. which
at least have never before been offer.
ed to the public but II is impossible for
this paper to coincide with his ex.
pressed view that because two men
were able to block the work of the
closing hours of the session the whole
Territorial administration should be
held up for full two years. The
direct inference of Mr.. Dickey's re-
marks is that the present blockade
"serves them right" Them" in this
Instance meaning Norrie, Robert Boyd
and the members of the House whom
they enveigled away from the legis.
lative hall. Looking at 1t from this
standpoint is tcntamount to saying
that It is wise to run the Territory into
the stone wall OF bankruptcy for no
other purpose than teaching a few mis-
guided citizens that they did not pur
sue the path Of wisdom. It seems
hardly possible that the Representa-
tive from the Third District means
what he says, though 1t must be admit
ted that neither the Governor nor any
other opponents of a special session OF
the legislature has offered any strong
er arguments in support Of their
course.
Mr.. Dickey is one OF the public men
who has a considerable degree of con
fidence in the people. He is disposed
to be liberal in his views giving those
not in entire sympathy with his opin
ions at least the credit of honest mo
tives. By reason of this chara cteristic
he has been able to accomplish more
than his associates. 1t is apparent
however, that to place himself in full
sympathy with the general demand OF
the electorate, It is necessary to go q
step further than is outlined in the
views he gives to the public.