The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-07-11
WRIT TALKS
Of PLANS Of
BOARD
Civil Service Commission Fayors
Model Police Department and
More Attention 10 Improving
Three Of the Most Important
Branches of Government Of the
City, Says Chairman.

Strong recommendations that the
police department be supplied with
modern equipment: that the police sta
tion be remodelled and be made worthy
of the city, aud that the police, FIRE
and health departments receive sufi
Gent appropriations TO place and main
tain them on a modern basis will prob
ably follow the official inspections of
the fire and police departments TO be
made by the civil service commission.
Senator Writ, chairman Of the com.
mission, talked on this phase of the
commission IS plans yesterday.
Efficiency a Prime Necessity.
ain order to get efficiency in the
police and fire departments. we con
slider that equipment is prime neces-
sity," said Chairman Writ. "The fire
department is fairly well provided with
modern apparatus, but the police de-
partment from the point of equipment
is disgrace. Particularly is this true
of the present police headquarters.
They are insanitary and foul, and /
believe that they should be remodelled
and cleaned up, and | consider the crea.
tion of an emergency hospital at police
headquarters to be an immediate neces-
sity.
at is true that the civil service com.
mission cannot require these changes to
he made, but we can make strong rec
| concentrations, backed up by facts and
| figures to show the need. The commits
sion was established to promote eff
cheney, and there can be no efficiency
| If the men are not provided with the
proper equipment.
81 believe that in arranging a city's
budget, the appropriations for police,
fire and health should rank all else, for
the first duties of a government are the
protection of life, property and health.
Honolulu has an income of some
| thing like one million dollars year,
and ! believe that at least one fourth
Of the total income should be allotted
for the three departments named.
Evolution Is Aim of Board.
GAS has been said before, the com.
mission does not plan to change condi-
tions by revolutionary methods, but
rather by evolution. Improvement will
come gradually but surely, and we hope
that there will be a very noticeable
change for the better before we retire
| from office.
| "One thing should be generally un.,
| derstood. The commission has nothing
whatever to do with regulating the in.
ternal affairs of the fire and police de-
| partments. Sheriff jarrett is the head
of the police, as Chief Thurston is of
the fire department, and they continue
TO remain so in deed as well as in
name
Modern Police Uniforms.
One recommendation, which it is I'M
derstood will be made, will deal with
uniforming the police in ~ style suit
| able TO the climate and the position
Honolulu occupies on the worlds map.
The present heavy blue uniforms have
been commented upon by tourists as
being similar in cut and design to those
worn by street car drivers of Chicago
during the panic of 1893. The blue
helmets are referred to as being new
IN that distant era when men wore
rimless derbies. The big badges, il is
| declared are identical with those worn
by the "By Heck" brand of constables
in the rural districts and are commonly
referred to as "tin cans.'
| With the mounted police presenting
4 neat and soldierly appearance in their
tailor-made suits, it is believed that
the commission will use its influence to
| change for the better the outward ap.
pearance of the "foot police.b