The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-16

County Government Act expressed n
reluctance but some diffidence in deal
ing with the subject, on account of th'
ritory for year and half, and because
his views were not exactly coincident
with any of the suggestions made a.
the conference in the Governors Of
flee. With this preliminary, he an
swered the questions put to him sub
stantially as follows:
Question: What, in your opinion,
should be the outcome of the dilemma
produced by the passage of the County
Government Act, and the recent decis-
ions of the Supreme Court?
Answer: L think the Territorial Gov
eminent should be administered until
the next legislature meets and acts up
on the matter, precisely as if the
County Government Act had not been
passed.
Question: What do you consider
should be done in relation to the Coun-
ty Government Act by Congress?
Answer: Nothing. On the general
propositions, I have already and pub
licIy expressed my opinion on that
point, at the meeting held December
9TH, 1903. I believe in local self-gov-
eminent representing the capable yot-
ing element in American communities,
and, when Congress conferred the
right to organize and provide for the
government of counties, am convinced
that it meant what it said, and that
legislation on that subject should be
ture. This is a general proposition,
covering the whole question of the sug-
gested ratification, now proposed to be
coupled with amendment. But there
are other and more limited and detailed
reasons which apply definitely to the
particular County Government Act now
under consideration.
Question: What are those reasons?
Answer: Your question opens up
wide range of fact, and you must par
don me, if my answer is necessarily
somewhat full. It will certainly rep
resent my own ideas, and is not in
tended as criticism upon the gentle
men by whom the County Government
Act was prepared and enacted. My
opinion is that the act should be en-
tireIy surrendered, on account of it's
terms and of the decision of the Su-
preme Court.
1. This Territory only has a popu-
lation of about $4,000 of whom, in
round numbers, nearly 100000 are Ash
atics, ineligible to citizenship. The
conditions here are unique, and not
paralleled on the mainland. Any Sys-
tenn of county government locally
adopted, to a certain extent should be
original in it's construction and adapted
to the conditions as they exist. The
County Act as passed, I regard as
framed to large degree upon lines ap-
plicable on the mainland, but inappli-
cable in these Islands.
2 The existing act appears to me to
be too cumbrous and involved, to en-
brace, not merely in one or two but in |
many places, subjects having no rele- |
vancy to its title and purpose, to lack |
terse grouping and classification, and, |
ratified by Congress or not, to |
be incapable of successful administra-
ton. On this part of the discussion a |
little detail may be in order.
The act embraces SO sections and
covers 15S pages of print. Clauses are
scattered through different chapters,
all of which cognate to one subject, |
would have to be grouped together.
Under it's provisions endless questions
If Interpretation and construction |
would arise, and much litigation would
,e the result.
The heading of the first Chapter is
County Boundaries" Under this
reading, it would be naturally expected
hat no other matter would be included,
kept the segregation OF the Territory
nto counties. But the chapter deals
Win judicial districts, tax districts and | ;
lection districts, and provides a sys-
EN- of government for the Leper Set
lement, which is organized into a
ounty by itself. The greater part of l
he chapter has no relation to County J
Boundaries Among other things, it
efines judicial jurisdiction and powers,
nd provides for fees to be collected by
ublic officers. Here are three or four
opies placed together, some of which
re essentially territorial in their ma
ure, and under a heading to which q
lost of them have no. application. d
In Chapter 8, the General Powers of
ounties'' and the method of their ex- e
rcise are defined, followed by Title 2. q
HAPPIER 5, under the heading of Pow .
IS of Counties Chapter applies to
lie Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, I
napier 10 MSSlIh5S u 1oodA anu
len, after two chapters on powers and :,
tervening subjects, Chapter covers =
General Permanent Powers and Duties :
the Board of Supervisors. The e
cond section of this chapter in three
hes confers powers relating to public il
ads ferries and bridges, and then fol-
" FIVE provisoes, covering the details 8,
the administration of these powers,
hich should be simpliffed and con- e,
nsed in some other portion of the | fl
t. Section Is of this chapter COM
Is the Board of Supervisors to adopt Ia
orders made or recommended by the
EDITORIAL Board of EIealth''--in other m
,rds, if municipal legislation is neces- pl
ry to carry out such orders, pre- Pr