Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-16
PADDING ParR0lIs FOR POLITICS

Another step in the supervisors plan to hire
special clerk for the board and add a new sal
airy to a burdensome payroll lis to be taken to-
night by majority of the board if it can force
the ordinance through second reading
Under the ridiculous guise Of getting up a re
port on what the board has done, its members
are trying to play petty political game. This
game, as the Star Bulletin has stated before is
simply to give the supervisors the kind Of pub.
licity that will shed a soft refulgent glow over
their year and half in office, that will lend a
roseate hue to their record, that will fascinate
and influence the voters toward sending the Inn
mortal seven back to the city hall for two years
more Of the kind of administration they have
been giving.
The supervisors who favor this beneficent
scheme have pointed out two main advantages,
Ttliat it Will keep the public informed day by
day as to what the board is doing, and that it
will result in q complete report to the legslaa
tiire
As to the Legislative report, the Star Bulletin
pointed out the fact that the legislature of 1911
expressly repealed the law which called for this
report from the supervisors. The report is now
made by the county auditor This paper has yet
to see proof that there is any legal requirement
now existing for a report from the board to the
legislature. If there is no such requirement, the
supervisors are simply padding the payroll.
Now as to the other point,-that the public
will be kept informed as to what the board is
doing
the board is sincere in this, it would have
some advantages, but the board is not sincere.
The board would not, for instance wish to keep
the public informed as to where and under what
circumstances its baekroonl callcuses are held.
Those members of the board who we're squawk-
ing loudly few days ago for a new steanrrolIer
would probably not care TO make public the de
tails of an agreement by which certain firm
here was to get the patronage These caucuses,
these agreements, are matters of interest to the
public, but the public would not get such pro-
ceedings through any sheet or any publication
controlled by the supervisors and edited by po-
litieal trimmer with one eve on the voter and
the other eye on private interest.
Certain members of the board seem to think
the Star Bulletin has selfish end in view To
those of the public who might be deceived by
this the Star Bulletin will say that it has al
ready refused to negotiate for the printing un-
deresuch circumstances.
This paper knows that the whole scheme on
which the supervisors are working is not a
scheme for public efficiency or municipal serv-
: ice. This paper does not propose to be black
lacked into line for a political deal.
1t may be that the supervisors can "put over
something that will enable them to get before the
!, public Gin proper light" 1t may be that their
childish and laundering attempts to carry on
the city's business can be so gilded as to appear
to the casual voter like good administration. 1t
may be that the supervisors themselves can be
I whitewashed and kaIsomined, and shine out in
new, and sanity hues.
1t NAV be,-but We don't think so.