Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-29
Central IMPROVERSNAMEMEM
TODISCUSS new STREET LAWS WITH
OFFICIALS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY,

After an able discussion by sew
eral speakers. Oahu Central Improve
ment Committee last night unank
mously adopted the following resolu-
ton, moved by Ed Towse and second
ed by r. r. Reidford:
Resolved, That a committee.
consisting of Messrs. Ashford,
Church, Andrews, Judd Within
ton, Swain, Reidford and Gere,
confer with the proper aUthori
lies Of the City and County of Ho-
nolulu and discuss with them de
tails Of the new street and paw
ing laws, and urge upon the said
city and county authorities that
they proceed at once with the en-
forcement OF the laws as set forth
in Acts 81 and 1S1 of the Session
Laws of 1918"
c.. w. Ashford opened the discus,
sion with synopsis OF the main pro-
visions of the two laws. giving his
views on methods Of putting them in
successful operation, both on the part
Of the board OF supervisors and that
of the people wanting streets opened
or Improved.
Professor Andrews. and T. NJ.
Church, the presidents respectively OF
Manoa and Kainuki Improvement
clubs, stated the positive action taken
by those bodies In favor of bringing
+ the laws into effect without delay and
strongly urged following up the cam.
paign. r. r. Reidford made siren
nous speech along the same line
Senator A. r. Judd supported the
legal opinion given by Mr.. Ashford in
answer TO questions, to the effect
that judicial decisions We're on record
which should prevent excessive as
sessments of benefits under: either
statute For districts having wet az
ricultaral lands, especially, he advo-
Gated spreading the assessment over
pthe area benefited rather than laying
IL only upon the frontage Of the
street to be opened or improved. This
question of taxation districts caused
the first difference of opinion In the
debate, several pronouncing strongly
IA favor Of the plain frontage tax.
Success on Maitland. -.
Mr.. Towse having moved the reso.
luton with remarks showing how the
frontage tax worked successfully in
certain mainland cities, G.. H.. Gere
spoke on different stypes of street
paving and commended that all under.
ground work, such as drains and
sewers, should precede the laying OF
permanent pavement. This opinion
met with opposition, further enliven.
Ing the discussion. ID. L. Whiting.
ton spoke Of the practice in California
when he lived there and favored as
sessment by frontage rs less liable TO
complications than the wide district
system 81
j. w Caldwell gave an address on
the present status OF the Honolulu
water works. with exhaustive data on
the plant and cost Of its operation.
There was only one problem involy-
ed. and that the financial one, to give
Honolulu an abundant and efficient
water supply, he said. At the same
time the speaker repeated the warn
ing that Honolulu was in danger Of
losing its artesian water altogether
II steps were not taken for having 1t
officially controlled The artesian
level was receding two-fifths of foot
every year. and there was no restric.
ton placed on the private boring Of
wells. he added Urging the adoption
of the meter system, Mr., Caldwell
gave figures showing that water rates
in Honolulu were not high compared
with other cities, also that the con-
sumption Of water per capita here
was not as many supposed. unusually