Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-15

T. CTlIlclZ1nR DOI1 the fecOInme0aa-
tons of the civil service commission.
which were made to the board Of su-
peryisors, on the ground that they are
not properly in that body's power, and
the rules and regulations adopted by
Il, p. l. Weaver, first deputy city and
county attorney, has handed the ways
and means committee an opinion in
which he advises that the commission
be informed OF the limits OF its au-
thority, and that its recommendation
be only regarded as having come from
three private individuals.
Mr. Weaver makes many points in
his opinion. especially emphasizing the
limited jurisdiction of the commission.
II is upon, his opinion that the ways
and means committee will base its re-
port, which is to be introduced at the
next meeting of the supervisors, Tues
day evening.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov. 13, 1913.
Opinion No. rs. &@y Il
Constituting Act 81, s. L. 1913i with
regard 10 report No. 364 of the Ho-
nolulu civil service commission, dat
ed, October /, 1913. 4
The first III pages are pertinent to
civil service reform. Remainder re-
lfers TO equipment of police and fire
departments, and is beyond the iuris-
diction of the Honolulu civil service
commission.
Receiving, considering and report
ing to the board of supervisors the
reports of the chief engineer of the
ire department and of the superinten-
dent of police ano fire alarm, is be-
yond the jurisdiction Of the Honolulu
civil service commission.
The commission has exceeded its
powers in preparing regulations or
ganizing the police and fire depart
ments.
VIM. H. Mcclellan, Esq, Chairman.
Committee on Ways and Means,
Honolulu.
Dear Sir: Your committee has re-
ferred to me the matter Of considera-
ton of report No 1854 from the civil
service commission to the board Of
supervisors, dated October /, 1913.
l. have read and considered the re-
port with a view to ascertaining
whether or not the recommendations
therein are within the scope of the
powers given to the civil service
commission by Act 81 of the session
laws of 1913, which placed them in
charge of enforcing civil service
rules, and gave no further powers.
The report Contains IL pages with
regard to its activities in preparing
rules and regulations and manuals for
selecting names from which to choose
the personnel of the police and fire
departments of the city and county.
The remainder of the 16-page report
lis devoted exclusively to recommen.
dations for a change in plan Of adj
ministration and of equipment
AS to the former, the commission
indicates energetic and efficient prog
ress in the work for which the COM
mission Is created. As to the latter,
the report betrays misconceptions
OF the scope of the powers of the
commission.
Z do not conceive that the act men-
toned contemplates any supervision
by this board of their activities, ex-
cept in the payment of expenses, or
that the board adopt or reject any
report of theirs. AS to the first part
of the report, they have shown what
they have done to date. AS to the
second part, strictly speaking, the
board should not consider it officially
in any way, and the matter might be
dismissed thus But, since the report
has been made with a misconception
Of the duties of the commission or in
zeal for the welfare of the city, it
would be courteous to consider it,
without returning the report as i'm
pertinent.
The report on page seems to in
dicate that the commission under
stood that it was going beyond the
scope of its powers. when it says
certainly no blame attaches to US If
we have devoted considerable time
and study to the efficiency or rather
lack of efficiency of the equipment Of
both departments, y" and explain'
ing that efficiency may not be at.