The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-02-20
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

there was military organization,
backed by the moral influence and
power of the whole Government was a
potent factor for order. The sum of So
600 year is a small one to pay for the
many advantages which the Territory
gains from the work of the men who
have voluntarily enrolled i'm the ranks
of the militia service.
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
The object of such a law is usually to
secure an expression from the voters
rather than from their delegates; to
prevent the voter from influencing the
action of more than one political party;
to give the scattered non-partican
voters equal opportunity with the or
ganized parties to express their wishes.
1t contemplates two elections, under
control of the officials of the commu-
nifty: First a vote in groups or parties
in order to make a selection of nominees
from each group; second, a general
vote on those thus nominated, in order
to make a final selection from them Of
the officials desired.
If such plan is to be adopted in Ha-
wall the expenses Of election should
first be reduced, and then be equitably
pro rated between the Territory and
the Counties in proportion to the num-
Der of officials to be elected for each.
SURVEY.
Some intelligent citizens have ex-
pressed curiosity in regard to the work
of the Survey Department and the
necessity for the large appropriations
for that office. Others impatient at any
delay, suggest that efficiency would be
secured by furnishing separate survey
bureaus i'm each of the different De-
partments.
We might Just as well supply each
Department with separate attorneys
and subject our community to the re-
suits of their separate conclusions, Of
ten conflicting, with the resulting in
consistency and increased litigation
that would also involve a greater ex-
pese.
The correct remedy is larger appro-
priations, with an increase of compe-
tent men on the office staff No great
er error could be committed than to
leave the delicate work of settling
future boundaries to independent bu-
reaus. 1t would cause much duplica-
tion of work and great confusion.
The Survey Department is called up
on for assistance, not only by all
branches of every Department but
furnishes considerable information free
to individuals, thus fulfilling it's func-
ton as a public service, with resulting
to the community as ii whole.
This does not mean that our survey
ors never commit errors nor that the
Department is without imperfections.
But, by Capitalization, at least errors
can be reconcied and a system i'm
posed with the least possible duplica-
tion of work, with head Office for the
deposit of valuable data in mass.
1t is safe to say that any unprejudiced
committee investigating the work of
the Survey Office would report that it
furnishes one of the best examples of
a wise expenditure of the taxpayers
money.
Homesteads, town lots remnants,
forest reserves, water sources, street
grades, road locations, school lots, all
depend upon this Department for the
description in their title. The extent
and development of any land policy is
limited by the work that it is possible
to accomplish in the Survey Depart
ment. Our Board of Education is now
looking to the Survey Office for a des-
cription Of every school lot in the Ter
rtory Already forty-siX have been
surveyed 1t is a surprise and a dis
grace to find that thousands Of dollars
Of public property has been located on