The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-08-16
SUPERVISORS IN
LIVELY SCRIMMAGE
Municipal Record Stirs Up Wrath
Abundant-Murray Beams
Then ScowIs.
From Wednesdays Advcrtiscr.)

A"cIc WIS hNtiy Hknb III inc OOaru
of supervisors last evening over the
question as to the advisability of is.
suing municipal record, which as w,
II. harrington, manager of the Star
Bulletin, stated might easily be turn.
ed into regular munciual journal, or
official newspaper.
The ordinance creating the post OF
clork or editor of this record came up
for second reading and Supervisor Ar.
mold stated that before any action was
taken he would like to hear from Mr.,
harrington.
With all the grace of n veteran may
or Chairman Murray called upon Mr..
Harrington for few words of advice.
He got them.
MIR. Mayor commenced Mr.,
Harrington,
"Thank you,'' beamed Murray.
Mr.. Mayor repeated the speaker
seriously rs Judge, "this proposition
as | understand it, is eventually to rs.
tablish a municipal record and official
organ of Honolulu. OF course, the first
thought of anybody would be that my
opposition to the scheme is because 1
am in the publishing business. On the
other hand being in the publishing
business | should know the expense of
such proposition, and it is in my
capacity ms IA taxpayer-fortunatel or
unfortunately-tha i speak tonight.
g In the first place / do not think it
would add to the efficiency of the gov.
eminent to issue this record, but simply
add to the expense, which would in
time become fixed charge. / do not
pretend to be n municipal expert, but
do know that such fixed charge
will not add to the efficiency of the
municipal government. On previous
occasion the cost of this record for the
legislature was $500; now if this can
be done for 1900 l do not see why it
ssOuld cost $1,000. 1t seems to me
that the board is going into eonsidera-
Bile expense, but doesn't know where
it is going. 1t seems to me, in sizing
up the matter, the costs of this record
have not been taken into proper con-
sideration.
No Circulation.
''This municipal record will not have
proper circulation, and while the OBJ
ject is to get the news before the PEG.
pie | feel certain that it will not reach
the people through this record so we'll
as in any newspaper of general circu.
lation in the city"
Murray here broke in to speak of
the advertising rates the city was pay.
ing, which he thought excessive, but
was quickly answered by Mr.. Earring.
ton, who explained that the present
rate had been established for the news.
papers during the days of the monarchy
and had come down to the present
through the provisional government,
the republic and to the present day
and was less than that charged for
transient advertising by the private
corporations of this city.
''1n other Advertising continued
Mr.. harrington, "the rates have adj
vanced one hundred per cent, but the
rate on municipal advertising has re-
manned stationary all these years.
Mr.. harrington went into the Edues-
tion of municipal records on the main.
land and stated that only in large
cities, and only II few of these were
there any municipal records or Jour
mails. He accentuated. the point that
such record would lead to greater ex-
pense without increasing the efficiency
of the service
Murray wanted to know if the ad-
vertsement bills of $4,000 or $4,000 a
year would not be offset by the ex-
pense of the record.
Need Another Clerk.
Dwell. there has been no kick by
the great advertising firms Of the city
or the federal government" remark
ed harrington.
Arnold said the last record had been
compiled by the mayor s secretary and
the county engineer, and he did not
see why new ordinance was uaznS
sary, especially if it was the qcihty of
the board to make this report to the
legislature. Murray added that it was
necessary to pass the ordinance to en-.
able the board to employ another
clerk.
Harrington spoke of the duty of the
officials of the city and county to the
taxpayers. Murray stated that. any.
way, the cost would be only for six
months, thus costing only $500.
The question is, would this ex.
pense be wiped out them" said Mr..
harrington.
"That might be if the business men
wipe us OUT replied Murray, garing
at the latest candidate for supervisor.
% good board would wipe out the
POSITION but bad board might in
crease the salary to 5000 a month";
'''N'hNh a
Murray's Other Reason.
"Well, / believe as supervisor. IL
will add to the efficiency of govern
ment to issue a municipal Journal, >
said Murray.
"That's just it," replied Earring.
ton, "and this scheme Indicates that
the board intends to publish a mu.
nieiPal Journal, and it costs money to
publish newspaper"
Attorney Milverton then explained
the ordinance.
1T seems TO me that this ordi.
nance prepares the way for the publ.
cation of municipal journal, :" sup.
plemented harrington, emphatically.
1t looks that way,' acknowledged
Murray, "but this ordinance is simply
to prepare report for the legisli.
ture, which alone has the authority to
permit the printing of n iournaI -