Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-02-15

the need even of the second reform
that of the direct primary, is less here
, than in many other places, but it
Would seem TO be a step in thes right
direction that may well be taken. at
least by way of experiment for county
and city and county elections or for
city and county elections alone. ! sug-
gest that in considering this question
the new so-called Berkeley system be
given careful consideration as one
which may have the advantages and
at the same time be free from some
of the disadvantages Of the ordinary
direct primary system,
Permanent Register. For purposes
of economy and still more for the con-
venience of voters, | strongly recon-
mend that provision be made for a
permanent register of voters, in which
only necessary additions and changes
need be made from time to time
Official Count. Recent experiences
in close elections and the unsatsfac-
toriness of the present modes of con-
testing elections suggest the desira-
bility of providing, as is done in some
other places, for an official recount of
the ballots cast for county and city
and county officers
City and County inspectors
of Election.
The provision for the appointment
of inspectors of election by the Mayor
of the City and County of Honolulu
should be repealed in order to avoid
unnecessary confusion, Inconvenience,
expense and duplication of machinery.
Where the same machinery will do for
both Territorial and local elections
there should be no duplication. There
is no more reason for extra expense
in the duplication of election machin-
cry in the case of the city and county
than in the case of the several coun-
ties, or for separate inspectors than
for a separate board of registration
Thus far the Governor and the Mayor
have cooperated by appointing the
same persons and using the same
booths for both Territorial and city
and county elections, and have thus
avoided the Objectionable consequence
cs which would follow if the principle
OF the statute were carried out, name
ly that of having separate inspectors,
which would involve the additional eX-
pense of paying them as we'll as of pro
Niding separate booths ana the incon-
venienCe to voters of being obliged to
vote at two places on the same day.
But such cooperation may not always
be possible.
81 -enure, Boards of Registration
n nd inspectors.
n Certain changes should be made in
" he terms of office of the members of
III do. igtr to- a,,I ot,r
II elections. These officers are very
III umerous and now have to be APP
III ointed within a very short time and
II therefore, without sufficient care as to
HI heir selection, and, although they are
Isl imposed to represent different politi-
81 al parties, this naturally becomes i'm
81 ossibe to some extent owing to
III Ranges in party affiliations; the in
I'll pectorS usually serve for only day
IN two once in two years. ! therefore
n commend that the tenure of inspect
HI rs be shortened to not more than two
N ears, and that the term of office of
III MEMBERS of the boards of registration
n changed so that the terms of diff
ereHt members may expire in success
i've years, thus making more frequent
n hanges possible and at the same time
taking the boards continuing bodies.
II PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
General. The change from Board
Y commissioners of Public InstruC-
ion appointed from Honolulu, which
a made possible frequent meetings, to
me composed of members from the
iiiferent islands, which practically
Il limits the number of meetings to two
year, while it has its serious disad-
A antages, has perhaps, all things con-
idered, operated well. The Depart
nent is working out various impor-,
ant problems; among others, the de-
81 elopment of the supervising principal
ystem, with marked beneficial re-
u ults; the Department has had the eff
ii octive cooperation of the Board of
Iealth in the increasingly-serious
u natter of medical inspection of school
bildren industrial training has been
4 xtendcd; a summer school was held
II asst year with the aid of private con-
Hributions. These and other matters
Il eserve lengthier consideration, but
Il he problem of funds in general for
4 he public schools is SO transcendent-
h important that attention will be
oncentrated on that
Funds. Each Legislature is apt to
e remembered, to its credit or dis
u rcGit, but generally to its credit for
ne or more important acts or omis-
Il ions of unusual consequence. This
n legislature ought to earn a lasting
Y anne as the friend of public schools.
laval may justly be proud of it's pub
\, ic-school history, but of late it has
L Jeen in danger of losing some of its
God reputation in this respect. This
" as been not so much from indiffer-
n nee as because of financial stringent
q Y. The financial status, however, has
h now greatly improved and it is high
q ime that this too-long-neglected pub
q ic service should have its day in court,
81 S ii were
3 During the ten years of Territorial
81 government the number of pupils in
q he public schools has increased more
q ban IS per cent, while the cost of
81 maintenance, exclusive of new build
ngs, has increased less than 45 per
ent In other words, the number of
4 ,upiIs has increased about &C 2/3 per
s ent. faster than the expenditure for
s. maintenance, notwithstanding that pu-
a lis to the number of about 80 per
= ent. of those in the public schools are
81 accommodated in private schools.
Z here has lately been q falling off also
lin the construction of new school build
3 lgs There is deficiency all along the
q ,ne--in school room accommodations,
s. Il number Of teachers, and in pay of
4 eachers and consequently in the quail