Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-11-27


administered under Government /
by Commission" the people might |
properly hold themselves in readi- |
ness to take what was given them
and obey orders.
As an example of what might be |
the incident of the public-bullding :
site exchange that has so aroused I
public opinion, may be valuable !
education for those opposed to ~
weak in their allegiance to popular
government.
There is not the slightest doubt Of
how the citizens of Honolulu feel on
the question of the exchange of thu
supposedly permanent Federal-build-
ing site for one Of the competing
sites. They oppose the transaction,
and the present opposition includes
great many who were original sup
porters of the Palace Square site.
The basis of the opposition to the
proposed exchange is: First. mat
ter of governmental principle-the
people resent the failure to have the
exchange presented for general pub
lie discussion and, Second, of bust
ness Observation-Disclosures that the To-
cation of the Federal building was
definitely settled. money has been
expended on the assumption that the
action of the Government in pur-
chasing the Mahuka property was
final and the contract with the bust
ness community was morally signed,
sealed, and delivered.
That's what's the matter. The Is
sue Is new one.
Had the exchange been made inn
mediately following the purchase OF
the Mahuka site by the Government,
or had the people received any sug-
gestion that the passing OF the pur-
chase money did not finally settle tho
question, there would be less ground
for argument against the consumma-
ton of the deal that Is now on. If 1t
We're known that the element of
chance still fingered about such an
important question as the location OF
an $4,000. building, the business
men would have conducted their deal
ings with such measure of gamblers
recklessness as suited their personal
tendencies.
Had the people been told at the
outset that their opinions We're Incl
its building without assistance where
it pleased, the inevitable would have
been accepted in such good grace Is
Americans are able to receive orders,
Thanks would have been offered for
the favors.
But exactly the reverse of these
supposed conditions has been the fact
in every step of Federal-building
progress-eXcept the last.
Two special agents were sent to
the city at considerable expense to
look over the situation and sound the
public. Public meetings were called
to gain the sentiment of the people
|, Petitions were circulated practically
at Government request.
or course there was a difference n
opinion. But the upshot of the petit.
tions and the public meetings and
the hearings and the arguments and
the tests of title, and what not, was
the selection of the Mahuka site, and
purchase, which the people had every
- reason TO believe was a finality as
good as Government bond to bank
on.
The people have acted in good
faith. They feel that the Govern
ment has not. The belief that the
people were to be considered was i'm.
planted by the Government. There,
fore the widespread sentiment that
the Government has violated its NOR
al obligation to the community.
II Is clearly an issue of the Gov
eminent and the People.
Nothing is gained by going off or
personal tangents.
So much money has been invested
and SO many business plans shaped
on the unwritten guarantee that thu
Government did not buy property t.
give it away, that Congress as repre-