Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-28
+. Goodinq Field Makes Ad-
dress Before Hiio Civic
4 Convention

Oahu and Hawaii, it was found that
much, if not all of the present failure
| q administrations was attrGbGtat !e 10
three causes, namely
!. Tie inadequ2cy OF HE preccat
County Acts to meet conditions;
2 The fewness of the, people who
pay direct taxes; compared with the
total number OF voters, resulting in
g. The predominating influence OF
yoiitics I'm the selection OF incumbents
tc public Office. 49,. .-
The actual defects in the manage
nlent of our County governments.
which have either a direcI CT an in
dl.ect bearing an the foregoing con:
dit.ons, are two-fold in character, and
relate to: -. ~ r..
/. The administrative functions o.
local government and
2. The administration and control
a. County finances.
These defects are as follows
! Under tie head of Administration:
< 1. Lack of efficiency IN ad!niuistra-
tive methods; r.
2. Absence Of constructive plan
! and definiteness of OUTLAWS for public
! improvements; and ~ .. VII.
( 3. Lack of organization and cap2-
{ city for dealing with community PROB
lens. i,
In mattefs' of Finance: 49,
J. Lack cot IN Accounting system
which gives the accurate facts OF gov
crnment; ...-..... .... 49,.
2. Absence of reliable informa lion
which shows the rights, franchise and
property OF the Counties; and
T 3. The unreliabiiity aid deficiency
! or Report submitted by County aud
tors Of the financial status OF the
Counties.
I II is my earnest opinion that before
we can attempt to obtain more las
ing and better results in tic admins
tiation of our County aaairs,. We must
eonfine our elective Offices TO nose
whose incumbents are directly respon-
s:hie for the policies of local govern.
ment, otherwise no truly responsive
government can be expected. IN this
the present County Act fails, in 60
: L provides for multiplicity of cleo
] tive offices, resulting in much friction.
/ lack of coordination and absence o.
complete responsibility on the part OF
cur public officials. / would strongly
! advocate, therefore, a short ballot, con-
firing the elective officers OF each
County to the Supervisors and the
/ AudftoT. The supervisors should ap'
1 Point the official service of the County
I End be held responsible to the taxpay-
ers for the administration of County
i affairs. BY including the Auditor in
/ the number of elective officers, il
/ would ensure to that official strict
! IL independent position, which the no
/ tpre of his duties demands. Heads of
Departments, who should be appointed
! b. the Board of Supervisors, snouid.
in turn, not only have the selection 2f
their subordinates, but in the conduct
iot their departments, they should De
lfeld directly responsible TO the Board
Of Supervisors. s.
Urucs Non-Partisan Election.
1 Politics should be entirely eliminat-
ed from our local administrative CAM
nafgns. A non-partisan County Elec-
t!cns Act could well be passed to pro-
/ vide for the election of our County
officers without the use of National
party emblems or names, thereby per-
rniiting the Counties to more nearly
determine elections on County issues.
1 Unfortunately for this Territory, IN
stead of detailed attention being given
! in the past to keep the public, Through
! its representatives, informed as to the
progress, the merits, TIE needs and
4 the faults of the business of County
government, our responsible electorate
/ have given their thought too largely
| TO the politics of County government.
To ensure a betterment in our local
affairs, much educational work is need
| ed on concrete administrative prob
lens, budgets, etc, which in recent
wears have resulted elsewhere in con-
tiruons developments. What We need
] TO perfect our system of local govern
ment is an aroused public conscience:
| We must crave business management
| re- Their than political fireworks. We
must make the men we choose for
public office declare I'VE will deliVe"
! the goods" and after they are chosen
we must insist, with an open pubic
eyes that the goods are delivered, oth-
erwise the efficacious remedy the ce-
CALI should promptly be put into op-
Grafton.
The County Act should be amend
ed, furthermore, to provide for COM
p,ete segregation of purely local and
Territorial functions. AT present there
/ is much confusion and uncertainty, to-
4 gether with needless expenditure OF
| public funds in enforcing this dual leg
islation. I refer more particularly to
matters affecting the Territorial De
! partment of Public Works and the
local Engineering Departments. Such
amendments to the Incorporating Act
should be made with the view to a
GENERALIZATION Ct authority so that the
maximum of results caa be obtained
IN both branches of the government
from the minimum of expenditures.
The County Act should be thoroughly
rc-modelled, on the lines of the most
progressive communities on the maiIN
land of similar size to our own, but
with due regard to the economic and
NEN -