The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-11-26

State Legislature shall pass an act call
| ing for uniform municipal reports
which, by the way. has already been
done in California-the city authorities
shall be governed thereby 1t is made
the mayor duty to employ an account
ant versed in the science of municipal
accounting not a member of the ofi-
cial service of the city, who shall ex-
anime at least twice a year all the
books, records and reports of the audi
tor and other officers. The accountant
rs given unlimited privilege of inves-
tigation, to examine under oath or
otherwise all officers, clerks, and en-
| pioyes. The procedure of making
department estimates and preparing
the annual budget is carefully outlined.
Through the establishment of a speeial
commissioner on public supplies better
results have been obtained in making
purchases than municipalities ordi-
parily enjoy.
No Politics.
Nomination for elective offices are
made by petition only. ANY qualified
! person is nominated upon there being
hled in his behalf twenty-five verified
certificates of nomination, each signed
! py one and a separate voter. There
Is no limit to the number of candidates
Tor given Office. Two elections are
provided for, three weeks apart. 4
candidate is elected at the first election
only If he receives majority of all
the ballots then cast For all places
not filled by majority vote the first
election is regarded as Il primary, and
! the two candidates who receive the
highest number of votes become the
nominees at the second election. Names
are placed on the ballot in alphabetical
order and without anything indicating
/ the source of nomination or support.
The maximum number of places to be
filled at an election under the Berkeley
charter is ten: Mayor, auditor, four
councllmen and four school directors.
/ Ordinarily there will be but six. cleo
lions being biennial, the mayor and
auditor holding office for two years, and
councilmen and school directors for
four years, two going out of office ev-
cry two years.
" Attention is thus conferred in few
Offices, and even large number of
candidates is readily sifted by means
OF the two elections, and minority
vote choice secured. Interest is at
tracted to the primary by making it
decisive in the case of any candidate
receiving majority of ballots. All
nominations and elections are at large.
Ready accountability is also obtained
through the recall provision. Direct
legislation by the people is provided
through the initiative ard referendum.
The Berkeley charter proceeds on the
principle that with respect to most
mat fore r1nnintr,ol
ly regulative and administrative in
their character. 1t is by a false anal,
ogv, generally speaking, that a separa.
ton of legislation and the execution
of laws is insisted upon in the ease of
cities. If the determination of cues.
tons of larger policy is reserved to
the people, there can be no objection
to confiding the making and admins
trating of ordinary rules and regula-
tions to one and the same representa-
tive body.
'The government of the public
schools of the City of Berkeley is
placed in the hands of board of edl-
cation consisting of five members. Four
of these are elected as school directors.
and the fifth is the councilman who is
acting as commissioner of finance and
revenue.
81 believe that the first step towards
real reform is in the frightening of of
fetal terms of office from two to four
years. 1t will hardly need much argu-
ment to convince the most skeptical
that experience in office is valuable
asset; if a proper system of recall, as
enumerated in the Berkeley charter, is
adopted this extension can be allowed.
with reasonable safety.
81 might state, in conclusion, that
in preparing--a workable charter to
meet our local requirements we must
bear in mind the seriousness of the
problem which confronts u.s. AS pro-
vision will have to be made for the
legal as well as other requirements,
conclusions should not be jumped at,
but should be preceded by painstaking
Investigation and calm judgment"
Support New Charter.
w. II. Harrington spoke briefly, de-
claring that he believed the new form
of government would be good thing
: for the city. He did not think that the
, long ballot is an affliction here and
produced specimen of real long bal
lot such as is used on the mainland,
which was big enough to cover full
slIcu Deu. ne Thought JndL canuludLeS
. when urging their claims on the cleo
: torate should advance arguments as to
G their qualifications to fill the place and
drop the use of catch-vote propositions.
Attorney w. t. Rawlns enthusiastic
, ally endorsed the proposal for a new
g charter. He said it was a mistake to
5 say that the Hawaiians would oppose q
r commission form of government, such
a as the one advocated; that when they
/. had been informed as to what it really
/ meant and that it had nothing to do
S with the bugbear of a federal commits.
;, sion they would be strongly in favor of
Is, a system which would prove of benefit
c TO the city, the taxpayer and the
1 worker.
Reports of officers were made, and
Mr.. Dillingham; told of the splendid
}. work at the open-air tuberculosis camp
j which is supported by the league. Chair
}. man Cali Is report of the year work
i was a very interesting document. New
c officers were also elected, Judge Whit