The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-01-05
Supervisors Of Oahu Will Go Slow
Until the Supreme Court
Passes on Case.
Formal Transfer Of Sovereignty Will Not Be
Made-.-Band Will Serenade Officers---Short
Synopsis Of County Act.

At ten o'clock this morning county
government discussed since the first
day of annexation and enacted into
law after several unsuccessful at
+e,nnts. will be formally inaugurated
in the six counties of Hawaii.
The change in government will take
place without ceremony, although at
noon Captain Berger and the Territor-
IA, hand will serenade the new Oahu
county officers. All the supervisors
md all of the county officers elected,
excepting Assessor Iaukea, have quail
God ond will at once assume their new
duties.
The supervisors will organize with
the election OF ]. A. Gilman as chair
man. Harry E. Murray as clerk Will
record the proceedings Of the board
and al, the county officers will be pres
ent when the meeting is called to order
In the Castle & Cooke hall. 1t Is the
plan of the supervisors to take no de-
cisive action at this time. or until the
Supreme Court passes upon the validity
of the county act. While offices are
In he established in the Young build
ing, these will not be leased until the
court decides finally that the county
act is valid Only such action will be
taken at today's meeting as will Insure
the continuance Of the government
with the least embarrassment and the
smallest expense. There will be no
formal delivery Of Office on the part
of the Territorial officials and the coun-
ty officers will quietly start work on
their new duties.
The county officers who Will nave
charge of Oahu's affairs are:
Supervisors, ]. A. Gilman, A. Hook
ing. NJ. p. Robinson, John Lucas, F. Il.
Harvey, S. X. Mahoe and j. Nj. he-
aloha.
County Sheriff-A. NJ. Brown.
County Treasurer-S. Il. Damon.
County Attorney-William T. Raw
Inns.
County Assessor-Curtis Iaukea.
County Clerk-Harry Il. Murray
County Auditor-Isaac Sherwood.
County Surveyor-Chris. Willis.
THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT.
A radical departure in the govern
ment of Hawaii is made in the county
law which is effective today. The
changes from the territorial to coun-
ty form of government are sweeping
many of them being at present little
understood. For instance, the Terri-
tory has no other source of revenue
aside from that derived through the
county collections, excepting various
small amounts which will not aggre-
gate more than $4,000 per month. The
Territory is to receive the proceeds OF
a five mill tax, and each county may
not assess for it's own purposes great
er amount than five mills, which VIII
leave the TAX rate ~ IT'S PieSe' so
ure,
The decision of the Supreme Court
declaring invalid the section or the
county act providing for Board OF
Public Institutions leaves many OF the
bureaus to have been taken over by
that body in state of confusion. The
prison, wharves, government build
ings, ETC., will rerhain now in the GUS
tody of the Superintendent of Public
Works.
POWER OF COUNTIES.
There are six counties in the new
form of government, counting kala-
wac which is under the jurisdiction or
the Board of Health.
Counties are given general power to
sue and be sued, to purchase and hold
lands, make contracts, levy taxes, etc.
No county can lend its credit to aid
any person or corporation. County
seats can be changed only upon vote
of two-thirds of the electors.
The Supervisors in each county must
meet today and elect chairman. The
county recorder acts as clerk. Meet
inEs OF the board are to be held on
the first Tuesday in each month, to
continue as long as there is business
TO transact.
SUPERVISORS DUTIES.
The supervisors supervise the official
conduct OF all county officials, control
public roads and works, excepting
such as are left with the Territory,
maintain hospitals, care for INDECENT
and sick, can acquire real estate or