The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-04

AT ten o'clock this morning county
government, discussed since the first
day of annexation and enacted into
law after several unsuccessful at
tempts, 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-
ial band will serenade the new Oahu
county officers. All the supervisors,
and all of the county officers elected,
excepting Assessor Iaukea, have quail
fed and viii at once assume their new
duties.
The supervisors will organize with
the election of j. A. Gilman as chair
man. Harry E. Murray as clerk will
record the proceedings Of the board,
and all 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
to be 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 have
charge of oahu's affairs are:
Supervisors, J. A. Gilman, A. Hook
ing, NJ P Robinson, john Lucas, F. r.
Harvey, S. K. Mahoe and ]. NJ. Ke-
aloha.
County Sheriff-A NJ. Brown.
County Treasurer-S. E. Damon.
County Attorney-Wiiliam t. Raw
Inns.
County Clerk-Harry E. 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 a 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 $50, 900 per month. The
Territory is to receive the proceeds of
a five mill tax, and each county may
not assess for its own purposes a great
er amount than five mills. which will
leave the tax rate at its present fig
ure.
The decision of the Supreme Court
declaring invalid the section of the
county act providing for Board of
Public Institutions leaves many of the
bureaus to have been taken. over by
that body in a state of confusion. The
prison, wharves. government build
ings, etc, will remain 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 of |
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-thireis of the electors.
The Supervisors in each county must /
meet today and elect chairman. The /
county recorder acts as clerk. Meet |