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

in some respects, be more adVanta-
geous to the counties than to the Ter
ritOry, for it would give to the coun-
ties the general property taxes, which
are steady and constantly increasing
in amount. while it would give to the
Territory sources, such as the income
and inheritance taxes, which are eX
tremely variable, but Notwithstanding
this it would seem to be wise move
from the Territorial standpoint
In order to effect this separation,
number of acts would be required but
all of them comparatively short and
simple.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The establishment of local govern
ment was one of The most far-reach-
ing and important governmental
changes ever made in Hawaii Hith-
erto the main question with some has
been how to extend it and with others
how to check it. The question now
with all should be how to perfect 1t,
for it is here to remain. The County
and Municipal Acts are superior to
many of the older corresponding acts
on the mainland and have been adj
mnistered on the whole better than
many anticipated, but they fall short
of what they should be and of the best
that has been developed in recent
years elsewhere. The proper develop
ment of local government is a ques-
tion of the people who are the parties
in interest, as distinguished from the
officers and particularly those who
may happen to be in office for the time
being The question is not between
the Territorial and the local govern
ments but between the local govern
ments and those whose servants they
are. The people should in their own
interests insist on the best for their
respective county and city and county
governments.
Selection of officers. The old no
ton that the larger the number of
elective officers the greater the extent
to which the people govern themselves
has been exploded. A government is
not truly a government by the people
except in so far as it is responsive and
to the people. The way to
secure that in the largest measure in
a local government is to elect those
who determine policies, namely, the
or directors, and let them
appoint the officers who are to carry
out their policies just as is done in
business corporations, to which local
are usually likened. 9th
crwso, there must be friction, lack of
coordination, and absence of complete
on the part of any one.
This is also in the direction of the
short ballot, which is now advocated
by the best thinkers on this subject.
The fewer the names on the ballot.
the more can the voters concentrate
their attention upon them and form
correct judgments in regard to them;
the better or more capable must nom
inees be in order to get elected; and
the greater the inducement for such
men to become candidates. Multiplied
ty of elective Offices is the delight and
opportunity of the ward politician.
| suggest that the supervisors and
auditors alone be elected, and that the
be given authority to ap.
point all other officers, except the au
ditor, who should be independent of
the supervisors.
Election at Large. One of the fea-
lures most relied on for good local
government elsewhere is that of the
election of supervisors at large. The
larger the constituency, the higher in
general must be the ability and char
actcr of a candidate in order to get
and an officer so elected is
apt to regard himself more as the rep
resentatiye of the entire county or city
and county and less as the representa-
tive of his particular district This is
# Ia, hau fg, "A
and "pork-barrel' politics. The SUI
peryieors are now SO elected in the
City and County of Honolulu. They
should be so elected in the other coun-
ties, except perhaps in the County Of
Hawaii. where four might be elected
from one side and three from the 9TH
err side of the island. or three from
each side and one at large, or all
might be elected at large but three be
required to be residents on one side
and three or four on the other side, al
though this would probably be the case
as a matter of practical operation In
any event
Status of Mayor. Following the an
alogy of business corporations. the
old dual system of executive and leg
islative bodies in local governments Is
being rapidly displaced by that of a
single business body The Mayor of
the City and County of Honolulu
should be a member of the Board of
with vote and no veto
power, Business ought not to be
clogged by red tape or by having
mayor of one political party and a
board of a different party. A local
government ought not to be made top
heavy with the machinery of state.
The majority should shoulder full re-
sponsibility. control policies and be
able to proceed in a businesslike way.
This would not detract from the power
or dignity of the office of Mayor, who
could still be elected as such. be the
presiding officer of the Board and
have a general superintendent over
the work of the City and County. His
dignity and power might even be in
creased by this change
The three changes above recon-
If made, would probably bet
ter not be made operative until the ex-
piration of the terms of the officers
already elected.
Financial Operations. Recommen-
dations have been made under >the
heading Finances" to prevent officers
of local governments from anticipat-
ing revenues and from becoming in
terested in county or city and county
and to guard against waste
In expenditures for the repair and con-
struction of roads
Financial Reports. There should be
more frequent, more complete and