The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-07-29


appointment of his deputies; the cleo
tion of a tax assessor to have the ap-
pointnent of his deputies; the cleo
ton of a district attorney. to be an
assistant to the attorney general: the
election of a county clerk to be record
err etc.
But drew the act so that the coun-
ties would not have the power to tax
or appropriate, this to be reserved to
the Legislature of the territory plac-
ing the matter in the hands of the sem
ators and representatives, the appro-
priatons to be at the disposal of the
Boards of Supervisors of the various
counties.
THAT, It seems to me, would be a
step In advance with less attendant
dangers, rather than the establishment
the theoretical democratic form of
county government. / think in this
change in our system of government
here the new things should not be
brought about too abruptly. There
has been a series of steps right long;
first at the overthrow; then with the
establishment of the republic; again at
annexation and again with the installa-
ment. This new change would be an
education and would avoid some of the
dangers which the thinking man Of all
shades would like to see avoided. In
many of the counties the majority of
voters have had little or no experience
in politics. I would rather learn to
swim nearer the shore than to be pitch
ed out into midocean and told to swim,
but where I might sink. After learn
ing near shore I could probably sur
vive in mid-ocean."
EMMELUTH HAS NO PATIENCE.
John Emmeluth was the next speak
er and prefaced his remarks by saying
that he was one of the original pro-
moters for annexation and went into
it from the standpoint of an Amer
lean. He said he was born and raised
in America and had voted for various
State and County officers and for
President, but "have absolutely no
patience with any one in this COM
munity who opposes the free adoption
of the form of county government for
these islands / have no patience"
continued Mr. Emmeluth, with the
should be elected or appointed They
should and must be elected. Congress
, would not dare to do anything about
the matter. If I We're a member of
this commission I would not discuss
such a matter.
IF this commission will draw up a
County Act and submit it to a test vote
Of the people at the coming election it
would Gecide for all time whether Co J.
grnsS would endorse :. OF not. l be-
lieve with Mr.. Dole that the trainers
of the Organic Act never contemplated
giving the Governor the appointing
power for these local Offices"
Mr.. Stewart: "Assum-"
Mr.. Emmeluth: Il am not assuming
anything. Congress did not intend to
saddle us with any such a PROPOSE
ton"
Mr.. Stewart: Assuming that the Su-
preme Court gave the Governor the
power to appoint, would you advise us
to frame the act for the board to be
elected by the people,"
| Mr.. Emmeluth: THE Supreme Court
never would if you would submit it to
| the people. Three-fOurths of the peo-
| pie would vote in favor of the election
| of the boards. / consider it far better
| to remain under the present system of
government than to get under such a
| system of appointed government as is
| proposed. We have been under the Or
ganic Act since 1900 and / think we
| have had ample time, if desired, to
| learn the voice of Congress through
official sources as to the construction it
| places on this NATTER
| Mr.. Stewart: "rhe Delegate says that
when he introduced the act to have
Congress ratify our last act he received
cold comfort from Congressman on the
ground that we have an Organic Act
that gives the Legislature the right to
establish counties and thought we
should proceed under it,"
Mr.. Emmeluth then made his sugges-
tions as to the act. He believed in Ho-
nolulu being made into separate
| county from the remainder of the is
| land. He advised under that condi-
| tion having the schools under local
| supervision, but thought it most de-
sirable that the schools throughout the
| remainder of the Territory be continued
under the present system.
He believed in Territorial Board of
iledltn, with lne DOafu maze up OF
members equally from each county.
"As TO our present system of public
| improvements there is no business
proposition about it, there is no equity
about it. The man with the biggest
pull gets the most work.
las to the matter of expense under
county systems l have written to three
| counties in each State and Territory
and to the Secretary of the State or
Territory of each for data and have
| received 120 replies"
Mr.. Emmeluth wanted severe checks
on receipts and disbursements.
Personally L am a crank" said Mr.
Emmeluth, "on proportionate represen-
tation. / believe this community would
be far better off If we adopted pro-
portionate representation rather than
continue the present system of election
by parties. 1t would eliminate many
of the disturbing factors that now pre-
vail. We would also get better officers
than We now get. Ii we can arrange
proportionate representation the high
est ideals can be obtained, Otherwise