Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-28

! H. Ga92IHG PIEA2. i
! "a a = Photo BY Perkins
local legislation. The following, how
ever, cover the salient points which
have been usually adopted on the
Mainland, and may we'll be coasidereI
:. our lawmakers.
The initiative.
II certain percentage OF voters
wish certain measure adopted thev
can submit il to the Board Of Super
Vigor, which must. in turn, submit il
to referendum.
! The Referendum.
; II a certain number of voters de.
mGnd an opportunity to vote npon (,
raeasure. the Board of SuperYicors
mast submit it to them. AMI the eGp'o
decide hY vote Whether it shall Or
shall not become law The Referendum
can be demanded not only on meas
tue previously proposed by the InrtIH-
tive but upon measures which have
their origin with the Board of Super,
v.Sors itself.
The Recall
= If certain percentage OF voters de
Tand thT right to decide whetlWr z
public official shall contiuue to hr'!
Office or must retire to private life,
the question must be submitted to tho
people ct an election. II they vote
against him he must give M his office,
whether the term for which he WIS
elected is anywhere near its END Or l.
jast beginning. The Recall r1'itinn
should be accompanied by definite
5, charges of fncompetency or 'corruDt
practice, and signed by not less than
rs per cent of the total voters in the
County. 49,.
! At the regular meeting of the Board
of Supervisors, / would advocate Civ.
ing the heads aof$C County departments
the right to a seat at .steh meetings,
but not the. right ITO. vote. I 1t is my
opinion that suchsa procedure would
greatly facilitate public business and
keep the executive branch of Our local
governments in closer touch with
/. County legislationt ~
| The political conditions existing in
these Islands are such that they met
Ebe seriously considered in liae with
any remedial legislation On substantial
reforms which canite expected in con-
nection with our qpunty governments.
Unless We can eliminate, root and
i. branch, the long exploded notion that
| civic government IS political 'nstitu.
ton and substitute in its stead the
principle that the united and best ener-
gies of every taxpayer are demanded
to build up the pubic machine. we can
: not expect any radical change in the
j present mismana cement of our local
affairs.
The growing demand on the main
land for direct sprimary laws. by
which all candidates for office are
nominated by direct voting rather
! than through theE caucus or conven
ton. might we'll be extended to ou1
local elections. Whatever the advan
; tages. theoretical or practical of the
convention system, it's doom is clear
ly written: The limitation of the
voter TO the choice of one leading
candidate. the manipulation of repre-
! sentatives chosen the opportunities
! for trading and jebbery, the undelib
, erative character of the convention
! all have combined to make the sys
TEN. as now known and practiced. in
! tensely unpopular and incapable OF
long duration. We cannot, by any
! possibility. successfully operate q
party which is organized on National
and State lines, and fit that party to
a municipal election. 1t never has
! been done, and it never will be done
The lines of cleavage Of the different
parties are different. The lines up
ron which they are agreed in National
and State elections are not the lines
governing the municipal election
/ That We should have Primary Elec
! ton law for counties. in my opinion
cannot be denied. and such a law
/ should leave the counties the right tC
| choose either the direct nominating
lsystem or nomination by petition; il
1.-The latter plan is adopted, then il
might be we'll 10 provide for prelim
mary election for the purpose Of
! choosing two candidates for each of
: flee.
! would also suggest The passage OF
; a Statute by the Legislature strictly
defining corrupt practice in regard &c
Territorial and county officials. max
ing the same penal offense; also
prohibiting officials from selling to
or contracting with the Territory OIL
county directly or indirectly. In re
gard to, county sales and purchases
, the law should state that the same
be made upon motion Of the entire
Board of Supervisors. ana also pro
hibiting the l0aning or hire Of county
! machinery, material. etc, TO con
: tractors or other persons.
! In order. therefore,. 10 furnish al
absolute check ON our pablo book
keeping, and to SECURE adequate pub
Iicity for taxatioK appropriations and
: expenditure, 4 law should be passed
by the next Legislature authorizing
the establishment OF a Territorial