The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-07-08
HOW MANY
Countess
Discussion Brings Up
Question for
Hawaii.
tFrom Wednesdays Advertiser.)

The County Act Commission began
its real work last night by going.
through the County Act" measure
passed by the last Legislature, and rip
ping out chapter after chapter. Many
of these, of course were the ones found
deficient by the Supreme Court, while
others were deemed shaky by the mem-
bers in view of the decision of that
court
Criticism was also made of the
phraseology of the former act some Of
1t being quite ambiguous. The extent
of the jurisdiction of the island govern
ments, involving Laysan and Lisianskf
islands, the French Frigate Shoals and
other islets adjacent to the group, came
up for long discussion. 1t was shown
that in the last Act the trainers had
made their Jurisdiction over these is
lands co-extensive with that of the Fed
eral government.
Chapter 25 of the old county act, re-
| lating to the mode of raising revenue.
was cut out by unanimous vote.
Chapter rs, relating to income tax.
was also cut out.
chapter q, that stricken out by the.
Supreme Court, was declared to be out
or the bill without further action of the.
commission being necessary.
Chapters 2S, 29, 30, 81 and 80, all re-
lating to revenue, and being entirely
dependent on the former chapters, were.
stricken out.
Chapter 80, relating to licenses, was
considered. Mr.. Cooper thought that it
should be matter of policy to cut It
out, as the court had intimated it to.
be doubtful question to incorporate
license matters in the County Act, in
stead Of having it only in the license
law Mr.. Watson moved that all mat
ters under Title s, from Chapter 35 to
Chapter 81, inclusive, pertaining to IL
cense matters, be stricken out. This
was carried.
Title 6, Public Works and Institu-
tions, was next considered. Chapter
Ga, Territorial Board of Public Institu-
tions, passed on by the Supreme Court,
was cut out.
Water works matters We're thought
to be for more deliberate discussion
and were left in the act for future con-
sideration.
Discussion arose as to the number
of counties for Hawaii. Beckley said
he was not yet prepared to say whether
he favored one or two counties. Mr..
Watson thought that two counties.
might be desirable, as the county seat
of only one county would be too far
away for some sections. Mr. Cooper did
not agree.
The clerk was asked to furnish for
the next meeting statistics relating to
the population of the various districts,
assessed valuations and maps of the is
lands.
A committee of three was suggested
to be appointed to ascertain the num-
ber of subdivisions for the various is
lands. Stewart did not favor a sub
committee at this time. If any one had
views to present on this matter, they
could present them to the whole COM
mittee. The matter was dropped.
The chapter concerning boundaries
for the proposed counties was read.
1t was stated that the boundaries had
been very carefully considered BEFORE
Mr.. Cooper said the only point he would
present for discussion was that of judi
cial jurisdiction. He had misgivingS
about it. Mr.. Watson could not un-
derstand how the county law could con-
fer jurisdiction where Federal jurisdic-
tion was admitted. Where the language
of the chapter involved the phrase 'in-
cluding Federal court" the words were
stricken out.
The phraseology which included
three mile limit" put an obstacle in
the way of the commissions progress
All sorts of little rocks lying off each
island, We're suddenly found to be of
Importance.
Mr. Watson objected to the Board of
Health having jurisdiction over the
general government of the Leper Set
tlement, or County of Kalawao."
Messrs. Cooper and Stewart thought it
would be a doubtful matter to touch.
1t was a matter for most serious con-
sideration. The County of Kalawao"
was permitted to stand.
Consideration of the subdivision of
districts of Hawaii. proposed in the last
County Act as West Hawaii" was
passed to a future meeting for consid-
Grafton.
Adjournment was taken to next Tues