The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-06-22
.COOPER'S IDEAS
OF COUNTY ACT
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION
OUTLINES THE WORK WHICH is
TO BE DONE.

Henry f. Cooper chairman of the
County Act Commission, addressed the
commission at its meeting last night
on the general scope of its work. He
referred to county government as re-
preventative government and a step
ping stone to greater powers for the
people later on. Cooper said that the
Organic Act must be the guide of the
commission and made the following
suggestions regarding the task of the
commission:
81 believe that the County Act of 1908
contains more than it should have donc
in the way of complications, irrespective
Of the provisions of the Organic Act. I
don't see any reason 10 have in II the
revenue measures and license A - that
were placed in the Act of 1908. Those
matters can be handled By simple
amendment to the present law upon
these two subjects.
81 also feel a grave doubt about the
right of the Territory to transfer ter
ritorial property to the counties. l
have briefs here which were well con-
sidered on that point, and my special
feelings is that We should take no
chances on this subject.
Then comes the question of the form
of government. From political stand
point, those who desire to see a full
consummation of the right of the peo-
pie to have their affairs conducted by
people of their own choice, look upon
the election of the Board of Supervisors
as one of the primal essentials. I feel
that is doubtful, legally. The Board
of Supervisors is undoubtedly public
Board and in the opinion of our firm
in testing the case before the Supreme
Court, We contend that the election of
a Board of Supervisors was contrary to
the Organic Act. These are not sOlidi-
fled opinions or unalterable convictions
but the growth of thought and expert
ence in contact with the Act of 1908.
How shall the couny be governed?
Shall it be by a single Supervisor for
each county elected by the people. or
by a Board appointed by the Governor
II would not express an opinion upon
this one way or the other, but it APP
ears to me the matter comes down to
tina poin.
Il believe that we can make progress
by taking up the Act of 1903 going
through it possibly several times, at
first striking out those sections which
We feel clearly should not be admitted
a. a part of the new act then taking
up parts not so clear and arriving at a
conclusion as to whether they should
remain or not, and then taking up the
bill and correcting wording in the re-
mainder, eliminating phrases in doubt
full sections or adding to others.
Il believe that There lis mo- need,
from an economic standpoint and from
the standpoint OF a proper administra-
ton of affairs, that there should be
more than one county on Oahu. l haze
talked to the people before and after
the passag. of the Act of 1903 and |
think I know fairly well the sentiment
of the people here, upon that point.
Many of the people on Hawaii are of
the same Onion, that they should not
only have representative government,
but it should be popular government,
and not a burden. Excessive expendi-
lures of money in the way of salaries
would gradually make the burden irk-
some. While it is a large island Ha-
wall is much smaller than many coun-
ties on the mainland and with the
opening of new roads and railroads a
round the island forming a belt about
it. and with increased steamer facilities
il is not difficult to communicate with
the county seat which would be at Hilo
the courts remaining where they are
so that the matter of litigation could
be handled much the same as now Per-
haps a re-division of the District Ma
gistrate Jurisdictions might be made.
Il have reserved definite and final
conclusions until 1 can have the bene-
tit of the opinions of all of you, and
come to the work entirely without pre-
JUDGE. | state this in a general way
to show how my mind has been work
ing since the commission was organ
lied"
After some general discussion, in
which Beckley, Watson, Crabbe and
Stewart all took part, it was decided
at the next meeting to take up the last
county act. section by section
j. d. Avery was chosen for clerk OF
the commission, at so per meeting if
the next legislature appropriates money
to pay him. Avery was nominated by
Stewart and seconded by Beckley, while
George p. Thielan was nominated by
Watson and seconded by Crabbe.
Cooper gave the deciding vote appoint
ing Avery on condition that he work
at the so rate which had been sug-
gesled by Thielan in an application.