Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-02-12
COUNTY BILL SUGGESTIONS
eyT. m'cANTs STEWART.

of the county should consist OF a |
County Court. to be presided over by |
q County Judge, and there should be
one or more District Magistrates. The
Judge and Magistrates should be elect
ed by the people.
The County Court should have ex-
elusive Jurisdiction of all criminal Of
lenses other than felonies, and should
have petit juries. 1t should. also have
exclusive jurisdiction in certain civil
cases. which could be enumerated In
the Act. 1t should meet monthly, sit
ting at least 20 legal days in each
month.
Fifth.-On account Of certain official
, delinquencies, there is tendency to
Impose excessive bonds under the i'm
preston, perhaps, that heavy bonds
would prevent defalcation. Bonds do
not make officials honest; and there Is
danger of excluding many poor but
honest men from Office, II excessive
bonds are required. The bonds in the
Bill are rather high. In New York
City the Receiver Of Taxes, handling
millions, is under bond Of only $4,000
The Collector of Assessments and
Areas gives the same bond; and there
has never been. to my knowledge, any
charge of dishonesty against these Of
dcials in the past twenty years, at least
SIXTH do not favor having the
County pay the indemnity companies
for insuring the honesty Of officials. ]
would provide, that the supervisors
shall designate bank or banks of de-
posit, within counties where banks ex.
, list, and require officials to make daily
deposits A stated sum could be re-
served from such deposits, the officer
being prohibited from having in his
possession at any one time more than
v certain specified sum Of money. My
main point is this, that, II daily de-
posts are required, reasonable bond
will suffice, and then let the official get
+ his own bond, which bona should be-
approved by the Supervisors.
! would prohibit all salaried county
, officers from engaging in business OF
= any kind, and require them to give all
= their time exclusively to the work OF
the county.
= would abolish the income tax.
{ would leave out of the County Act the
7 title providing for licenses, giving the
j power to the supervisors to fix such
s licenses and change the same as the
}. interests of the county require.
o emphasize the statement. that
!. would require the supervisors, the road
r. boards, and the health and educational
Il boards to serve without salary. Tht
s machinery need not be expensive.
l. would respectfully submit that, IN
r disposfng of these vital matters, thu
a Legislature should not hurry because
!. lof any time limit. II you pass these
d local government measures, you will
{. be inaugurating a radical change, and
I III II is necessary TO spend six months
/. Iperfecting your measures, the tax
payers will not grumble, II the time
d Is filled up with hard work.
e could make other suggestions, but
/. II have overcome considerable hesita
$ ton in going as far as have alread!
.. gone.
y The Bill Is ably drawn, and the Com
4. mittee and Mr. Breckons deserve un
a stinted appreciation from the citizen
IL ship of the Territory for the hard worl
e done in purely public spirited way.
IS Very respectfully,
r. T. McCANTS STEWART.