The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-04-14

4 Inc NctOing OF the county Dill Dy
| Governor Carter and the subsequent
passage OF it over his head by the sun
stantial vote of 81 to B were the prin-
/ cipal events in the House Of Represen-
| tatives yesterday.
The veto was brought down at 1850
and was read at once by the clerk and
interpreter.
GOVERNORS VETO.
1t ran thus:
To the Legislature of the Territory
of Hawaii:
Herewith, return House Bill No. /,
| entitled San Act creating counties
within the Territory of Hawaii, and
providing for the government there
of, which 1 am unable to approve.
The plan of county government pre-
sented is simple, and has many excel
lent features. 1t is, however, incom-
plete in tnat it contains no provision
for the revenues of the counties. 1t is
unfortunate that the taxation measure
which this bill shows to be contem-
plated is not yet submitted.
The approval of this bill, while not
making it absolutely certain, yet would
oblgate the administration to accept
a financial plan under which it's rev.
enues would ne beyond the control of
its officials, its credit seriously affect
ed, and it's finances involved to such
an extent that the harm could never
be repaired.
The plan of allowing each county tax
assessor to assess property in any man
ner he might see fit has been tried Dy
many communities, found Impractical
bic, ana has resulted in the adoption
of State and Territorial Boards of
Equalization, with centralized power
and authority, under which alone uni
form assessments have been brought
about
/ recognize the wide demand for a
more representative form of govern
ment. l believe that TO develop our
people, responsibility must be placed
upon them. Experience cannot be
passed from one community to another
any more readily than it can be passed
from one individual to another. 1t
must be developed. l can, however,
see no reason why our Territorial
finances should be involved in the ex-
periences our people are anxious to go
through in the development Of the
county system.
There are few minor objections
that it might be well to point out:
First. While certain county officials
are provided under this bill and their
salaries fixed, yet wide discretion is
allowed each board of supervisors to
appoint such subordinates, create such
positions and nay such salaries as they
deem necessary or expedient. Thus
the taxpayers must recognize that the
present salary list does not limit the
expenses in that direction.
Second. There is an evident desire
and attempt to safeguard public inter-
ests by requiring surety bonds from
all public officials, yet any surety CON-
pany which has the stated amount of
its capital can be. authorized to issue
surety bonds even for the board of SUI
pervisors themselves, who have author
lied it's acceptance. While it is true
that the sutficiency of the surety, in
the case of supervisors, has to be pass
ed upon by circuit Judge, yet this
| divides the responsibility between the
board of supervisors and the circuit
judge (and it is extremely doubtful if
any judge Will have the temerity to re-
| fuse to accept any surety company
which the board of supervisors has al
ready approved.) Thus between the
two the taxpayers interests would be
unprotected.
Third. The bl.i provides that all
county officials, with the exception of
| the sheriff of Kalawao, can be i'm
peached, and for this purpose the board
of supervisors becomes a tribunal be-
| fore which impeachment proceedings
can be heard. Thus we have tie
anomaly of a member of the board of
supervisors permitted to influence ana
vote in proceedings for his own i'm
parchment.
Fourth. There is some confusion as
to the payment of election expenses of
the Territorial Board of Inspectors.
Fifth. A careful analysis of the bill
fails to show any remedy in case
duly elected official fails for any rea-
son to qualify. With county govern
ment once in operation, his predecessor
would probably hold office, but this
omission may seriously hamper the In
stituting of the system,
Sixth. No board of supervisors can
pass an ordinance in contravention of
or in conflict with the general laws of
the Territory. This rule appears to be
universal, with the astounding excep-
tion of the transportation, storage and
use of all explosives and inflammable
oils, where the power of the board of
supervisors is absolute. / can see no
reason for this exception, or the ad
vantage of having each county act in
dependently of any other, and without
regard to the Territorial law in rela-
tion to such matters.
These objections, however, are minor.
The great difficulty is that the Terri
tory will be hampered, in that the col
lection of its whole revenue will be
placed in the hands of county officials,
the surety on which bonds may be
worthless, and who are beyond the
control of the Territory; our finances
endangered, our good faith and credit
injured.
To defer to the wishes of the people,
and accept responsibility for such a
measure would be clearly against the
plain duty l owe this Territory.
(Signed) u. r. CARTER,
Governor.
Executive Chamber, April 10, 1905.
! CoELHo'S MOVE.
Coelho was on his feet as soon as the
veto HAD been read in Hawaiian.
/ ''Mr. Speaker" he said, 81 move