Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-01-14
PRESERVE THE COUNTY LAW.

bTltHs put, lut ItlndIhs Hidut ~ th'
conference called by Governor Carter
show two things very clearly: First
the men who are opposed to local self.
government as eXemplified in the
county law, who have always been OPP.
posed TO II and will forever oppose 1t,
urge the Governor to drop the county
law and, by hook or crook or Supreme
Court sanction, go forward with the
Territorial business under the appro-
priations of 1901.
Second-The citizens who believe In
the principle of the county law, who
Territory and as such is entitled to In
dependent local governments, advocate
the confirmation of the county law by
the most speedy and inexpensive meth.
od-an appeal to Congress.
This is the situation before the Gov.
crnor. The discussion was to the
point. The men opposed to the county
government declared themselves open.
Iy and. naturally, their solution is to
allow the county to remain memory
as long as possible, the Governor
meanwhile to fall back upon the old
appropriation bills to cover the ex.
pense Of another transition period. On
the other hand, citizens as vitality In.
terested In the moral, political, and
material advancement of the islands
are convinced that the Governor
should move to carry the county law
forward to confirmation. They con.
slider county government fact so far
as the intent and desire of the people
is concerned. II has been checked by
a technicalty which is not-beyond the
power of Congress or the Legislature
TO overcome. To call the Legislature
means additional expense which the
Territory can Ill afford II another So
luton is possible. Ratification or re-
enactment of the law by Congress, to
their mind, furnishes the most mex.
pensiye and prompt solution under the
circumstances.
It cannot be justly said that the bus.
iness community is opposed to the
county law. The discussion proved
quite the reverse. While they did not
speak in their official capacity, We find
". o. Smith. G. W. Smith, F. w. Mac.
farlane and E. ID. Tenney, all intimate
ly associated with business interests,
large and small, urging Congressional
ratification or re-enactment, that the
county law may continue as the Legis.
lature and the people of the Territory
intended 1t should. Their conclusions
are identical though possibly reached
by divergent lines of argument. They
have in mind the temper of the peopls
and the future elections which are
proper and inevitable considerations.
The Governor must of necessity bear
In mind that the whole record Of public
utterances before this conference call.
ed by him Is steadfastly in favor Of the
preservation Of the county law. The
county law principle was first endors.
ed by party organizations, then by the
duly elected representatives of the peo.
pie. Possible dangers threatening the
law resulted In the Merchants Asso
citation calling public meeting In
this city. That public conference do
clared, after careful and thorough ven
tilation and deliberation, In favor of
the county law. Opponents Of the law
were not successful In convincing tho
people that this principle of govern.
ment should be postponed. That con.
ference, with full realization of what
II did, declared for ratification by Con.
gress or special session of the Leg.
islature II necessary, II upheld tho