Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-23
ABUSE OF THE STREETS

If the city ordinances are openly fIouted by
contractors who tear up and otherwise damage
the streets, the remedy is ready to the hand OF
the supervisors and the road overseer
If the streets are blocked by building mate
rial, the remedy is provided for the city authori
ties to use
The city does not need more law, but more
ambition to enforce the laws
This whole question of the powers and duties
Of the board of supervisors in relation TO the
streets, highways and public places of the city
and county has been thoroughly tanyassed and
the board was rendered A comprehensive opinion
on March % last by the first deputy city aud
county attorney, Mr.. Milverton.
That opinion refers in detail to the various
legislative acts and municipal ordinances that
have built up the structure of city authority,
and declares emphatically that the supervisors
haxe.the right to stop pronliscuous tearingup of
the publichighways or TO end other of the abuses
alleged to the contractors
1Whenever the powers of the city and county
Of Honolulu have been tested in the COURTS de-
clares the cityss legal adviser, "they have been
judicially Sustained, and we may assume that
until there is a judicial determination to the
contrary that all of the powers granted by the
charter can be exercised, and caerciscd Ia such
mdpney as to be effectiUe.
The municipality acting under its, charter
bowers has passed several ordinances relating to
the streets, highways and public places of the
city and county. Ordinance No. 10, for instance
which relates to the breaking up digging up
disturbance, undermining and digging under the
public highways, streets thoroughfares alleys
sidewalks and other public placeyin the city and
county, furnishes every reasonable protection TO
the municipality concerning the matter it COW
ffs, and in my opinion is valid and enf0reible,
and If enforced ariu hare the effect Of climindt-
;ag many objections uo0 heard CONCERNING the
p,Omiscaous and unauthorized tearing up of the
public highways. -, 4.
eAnother ordinance No. 81, passed by the
board of supervisors in March of last year, and
which relates to the scattering, throwing, drop
ping depositing and placing of rubbish, debris
and other materials on highways, streets, roads,
elleys lanes, sidewalks, sea-beaches and public
places, If enforced sciH do much to ob1iate the
Injections so frequently heard of deIinquencies
b such matters.
The city charter gives the board of superyi-
sofs the power to "ordain, make and enforce
laws and regulations. The board has the power
to put an end to the abuses complained of, and
that power is sustained in the courts The citysl
legal department, it is shown concltsvely by the
foregoing, believes that the ordinances against
digging up the streets or jamming the sidewalks
NTH building material, can be enforced
There is plenty of law already If the super
fis6rs believe the law is being violated, why do
they not direct the city attorneys department
and the police to get busy, make some arrests if
necessary, and see if the courts will not put an
end to the abuses laid at the doors of contractors
BIZ city officials?