Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-01
COUNTY Government
Hawaii Passe{Tprough Some
Sudden Changes.
A RULING IF COURT
ACT OF 1ra1srArunn DECLARED
INVALID IN TOTO.
Territory Thrown into confusion-No
Funds to Run Government
The Probable Effect. H.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
HONOLULU. T.. H., January It. 1904.
For nine days OF the year 1904 the Ha-
waiian Islands had system of county gov
eminent, for which the Hawiian population
has been ciamoring ever since annexation.
Then the supreme court of the territory
handed down a decision holding that the
county government act was void in toto,
and the system collapsed like house of
cards 1t was a profound practical disap-
pointment to a lot of elected county officers,
and great disappointment to the natives,
who have sentimental leaning toward
county government. as a sort of increase of
their power of suffrage
Grave doubts had been cast upon the le-
galty of the county act by numerous opin-
ions of attorneys. expressed from time to
time after the passage of the act by the
last legislature. and by a decision of the
supreme court declaring an important part
of 1t invalid. The result was that before it
went into effect on January 4, 1904, a test
case had been submitted to the supreme
court, through action by the Bar ASsocia-
ton. and decision was being awaited
In all the five counties. the boards of SUI
pervisors met On the 4th of January and
began the organization of the county gov
eminent. In Oahu or Honolulu, where
that had been cast upon the act, there
was general hesitation about going ahead.
The supervisors did not rent any headquar-
tiers and pursued a policy of Undertaking
no expense that could be avoided until a
decision was rendered. They took up the
reins of government, however. and the ter
ritorial departments were surrendered to
them.
The Sudden Change.
High Sheriff Brown. head of the police
force of the territory. turned over the po
lice affairs of the outside islands to the va
rious county sheriffs who had been elected.
He was himself elected in Honolulu, or the
county of Oahu. and consequently there was
no change In that most important of the
districts. On the other islands county sher-
ifs took charge. For nine days the boards
of supervisors In all the counties held meet
ings almost daily. receiving and approving
the bonds of county officers and making ap-
pointments to many offices left to them.
Organization progressed intelligently with
out exception and in view of the financial
difficulties there was a~busnesslike spirit
and disposition to ecpnonS which seemed to
promise well for THE new form of govern
ment
By January 49, the day on which the de-
of counties had been prattically completed.
and the county officers Whre nearly all per-
forming their duties The changes had oc-
CURED smoothly, and while not one of the
had sources of monthly revenue. which. it
was estimated. would carry 1t through the
year. The territorial government was in
the most dintculty! It had appropriations
for considerably over twice what it had
money for. either on hand or coming In.
and Gov. Carter was meeting highly en-
barrassing state of affairs by policy Of
rigid retrenchment ia expenses.
= *" A Threat 6f'chaos.
The decision seemed to leave government
affairs In chaos. Gov. Carter lost no time
in causing the territorial police to resume
control. The county 7sferiffs. with the ex-
ception of william White of Maui, home
ruler. at once gave, up their offices. when
shown the orders by wireless from Homo
lulu. White objected at first, and orders
were cabled by the territorial high sheriff
to his Maui deputy to take the office.
whether White wanted ito give 1t up or not
White then gave up, and the little threat
ened instruction came to nothing. At the
present government affairs are running
much -assn there had never been county
act.
The territorial governments main diff
Guilty was that the legislature had not
made appropriations to carry on govern
ment after January 4, when the county act
was supposed to go into effect. There was
no provision for police, courts and other i'm
porfant departments. and 1t was thought by
many that Gov Carter would have to call
an extra session OF the legislature to pass
j
Hatch had been sent to Washington to try
to secure the passage by Congress of an act
rattfytng the Hawaiian county government
act 1t was finally decided that Carter
might proceed under the appropriations
provided for the former period and this is
being done.
A Change Of Sentiment.
1t is not quite so certain that Hawaii will
have another county act as 1t was two
years ago that such an act would be
passed There is open opposition to tho
system now. All political parties have
strongly favored 1t In their platforms ever
since the islands became a territory. and
no politician has dared to oppose. II, openly.
recognizing that such opposition would ut
terry ALLEVIATE the native vote. There has
been something Of a reaction. At public
meeting called BY, Gov. Carter to discuss
| the Situation when the. supreme court killed
the county government act lot of epposi-
ton was expressed. One speaker argued
that the majority Of the voters of Hawaii
are not fit for local self government. and
this argument has great deal of support
here. Leading citizens are very doubtful
Of the general capacity of the electorate
character of the t~S territorial legislatures
Hawaii has chosen as proving their posi-
ton. , = ..-s-"
The Probable Effect.
It Is. claimed, by home rulers that their
party is practically sure Of a success In the
election next November. and will control
the legislature by a large majority. as re-
suit of the failure Of the republican county
act. This would probably mean an incom-
petent legislature again. Republicans claim
| that they can carTybshe ISLANDS again. but
the present outlook does not make their
claims any too enthusiastic The PROPOSE
ton of repetition of the sessions of 1901
is not inviting to the White population OF
the country. On 10 -
In spite Of oppositjop All parties will prob.
ably declare and WORK for county govern
ment again. The iSrgafIic act, by which
Congress gave HaBafa territorial form OF
government and is supposed to have given
the Hawaiian Legislature power to estab-
fish county and mtnttipM government. Is
not clear on the sff9jfect. however. and