Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-21

diture of Federal Appropriations on
| Honolulu harbor to complete plan. and
! also for adequate appropriations by
| Hawaiian Legislature TO carry out the
| Harbor Commission plan for wharves
We may be assured that, II suitable
! accommodations are not provided on
opening of the Canal. opportunity will
and shipping and travel OF great value
/ to this port will pass US by.
Panama Canal Exposition.
1T is imperatiVely necessary that
the next Legislature should make suit
able appropriation for the Hawaiian
; building and exhibit, if we are to he
properly represented at San Francis
CO.
Harbor Commission.
The appointment Of this Board to
control the expenditures Of large ap-
preparations for wharves and harbors
was in acordcance with the recon-
mendations of our Legislative Commit
tee. Necessary rules and regulations
have been governing the handling ana
storage of freight, which had the ~Jn-
sideration of our Trustees. and plans
are being considered for securing the
greatest dock facilities possible in Ho-
nolulu harbor. the bulkhead plan, with
railway. having met with the approval
OF our Trustees.
Buildings.
"An Unprecedented development OF
ou1 bus and residential sections
is in progress A business block cost
ing 500, 900 has recently been com
pleted. and three more of approximate
cost are in course of construction, be-
sides others of less price. The Spreck'
els property, bounded by Queen, Ala
kea and Merchant streets, will prob
ably be turned into business blocks
N the near future.
Commercial Building.
Notwithstanding the efforts OF
capable and representative committee,
the financial difficulties attendant up
on the erection of a commercial build
ing have not yet been solved, and
must 20 over to my successor, so far
as the interests of this chamber are
concerned. The various organizations
interested are anxious to secure a
creditable home, but fully realize that
this must be accomplished without "a
heavy burden of debt or dangerous
financial responsibility. Attention is
now turned to the possibility of sat-
isfactory home as tenants.
Political.
while the Territory has advanced
so materially industrially and COM
mercially, and in general development
during the past two decades, our ad-
ministration of public affairs does not
show marked Improvement, so far
as economy and efficiency are con-
cerned, over The good old days of
the Monarchy, when our form of gov
eminent was likened to the machin-
cry of the steamer Great Eastern in
a sardine box Notwithstanding that
our tax revenues have almost trebled
in the past ten years, our public debt
has been going the same pace, and all
without satisfactory results, so far as
public works and service are concern
ed. In order to assist in securing
more efficient and economic admins
tratiye methods, this chamber under
took in February last an investigation
into the affairs of the city and county
of Honolulu, which was accorded the
ready assent of the mayor and board
Of supervisors. The report 9of Mr. H.
Gooding Field, the expert employed
by the chamber, goes extensively into
county detail and contains valuable
information and suggestion. 1t points
to political decentralization, friction,
lack of coordination, lack of respon-
sibility, and lack of business methods,
resulting from unframed officials,
multiplicity of elected officers, COM
plications and defects of the, incorpor-
ating act, lack of system and waste Of
public funds. This report should be
of value in arousing responsible men
to the necessity of taking a more act
i've interest in politics and of placing
reliable and competent men in office
to insure the best results possible I'M
der our present system of government.
In this connection the progress of the
commission form of government in
mainland cities is being watched with
great interest.
Roads. 1898
eve may accept as an axiom that
good roads are one Of the best assets
for+the Territory Too severe critic
ism would be impossible Of the utterly
inefficient and criminally wasteful po-
hey pursued for wears past In our read
The responsibility does
not rest wholly on our Board of Super
but extends back through sue
ccssive administrations of County and
Territorial affairs. Our City Road
system has now reached a condition
not merely repairs but gen
eral reconstruction at a great cost
This work must be divorced from po-
litics and civil service methods adopt
eG competent road superintendent
and assistants employed and kept in
office during faithful service. Contract
work should be done where large
are involved.
The continual tearing up of streets
for water, sewer, and gas pipes and
for other purposes, and the proper fill