The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-03


the members OF the governing board.
Defimteners For outtays.
AS the pebble funds are disbursed
by the board of Supervisors, ,as agents
of the people, the moneys devoted to
permanent improve ments sluuld be
expended, as much IS possible, in ac-
cordance with definite purposes and
well considered programme This
would necessita.e both city planning
and sound finance. which can only be
made ps.ssib3e by men of ability Serv-
ing as members of the board We
must, al onre, discontinue the prac-
tice OF borrowing from Peter to pay
Paul, of Gripping one function of the
city government to strengthen an.
other
Charter Revision.
The charter of incorporation of the
city anu county of Honolulu needs a
thorough Temodelnng, with the view
to undermining anG ehergizIng the
public machine. AS no legislature is
far seeing enough to be able to de
termine for all time what powers it
may be expedient for a city to ,exer-
else, the legislature can not give city
powers which will be permanently
satisfactory so long as these powers
are enumerated. A complete scientific
study of our present charter should
be undertaken, based on an t1vesti
CATION of our community needs, com
mon acts and common properties, for
attention to which all municipal gov
eminent is organized.
Salaries Arbitrarily Fixed.
At present there is also a marked
absence of independence on the part
of the city and county in the trans
action of its own affairs. For in
stance, the salaries and expenses
which were fixed by law and made a
charge against the operation of the
city and county for 1911. amounted to
$5714O33, which sum was increased
in 1912 to S676SO.OO. The salaries in
question were for elective and other
officers. 1t is true that certain reve-
nues were turned over by the Terri
tory to the local authorities to meet
these liabilities, although it is an
open question whether the receipts
will entirely offset the charges, but
to the extent that the city and county
is compelled to provide for the an
nual advances in the salaries of its
own employees, whether resulting
from meritorious service or otherwise,
Is a great handicap to efficient man.
agemtnt. 1t is a we'll known fact that
the salaries in the first instance so
fixed by the legislature, with few ex-
ceptions, were in excess of the COM
pensation which would have been
paid by non-governmental employers
for similar services rendered.
Segregation of Territorial and City
and County Revenues.
The main cause of this confounding
of obligations is the failure to COM
pletely separate the sources of Terri
torial and local government revenues
in their direct application to Terri
torial and local requirements. If the
lines of demareation were closely
drawn and revenues strictly Terri
torial in nature were applied to Ter
ritorial needs, and those local in
character were turned over to the
local authorities for disbursement,
then the city and county would un-
be placed on self-sustain-
ing basis. If, furthermore, a maximum
rate of taxation was established by
law, fixing the rate both for public
and operating expenses,
then the city and county appropria-
lions would, Of necessity, be made
with an eye to both economy and
efficiency.
Budget Exhibit.
To assist in stimulating a public in.
terest in our municipal problems,
and to encourage the administration
in record for efficiency and progress,
whatever information is supplied by
the heads of departments to the
Mayor and his colleagues in the form
of statistics and tables should also be
presented, in a comprehensive man
ner, to the citizen. A budget exhibition
on distinctly educational lines, would
enlighten the taxpayer and should in
clude charts and diagrams Of the work
which is being done for municipal bet
terment.
Civil Service.
Our city offices should be filed by
appointment, and promotions should
be made by merit, determined by i'm
partial tests of fitness for the work
to be done. Tenure of office should
be secured during good behavior and
efficient service. Time sheets should