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

system should be made unofficiaIIy
and without seeming. 20 fecos,
nfze any other Authority. The ac'
Of the commission in accepting and
acurg upon such report is as much
outside of their duties as If the trus-
tees Of the library of Hawaii, or the
board of health. should. receive and
act upon such reports.
The report contains suggestions for
legislation. which might constitute
material for preparing a party plat
form or in making up q budget. II
has no place in the report of the
civil service commission, acting as Of
ficers.
What recommendation are made
are Of value only as Tie suggestions
of three private citizens. For these
reasons / think the matter is clearly
one which should be called to the
attention Of the commission and TO
the. heads Of the two departments who
have reported to the. commission.
The report also contains a state
ment that the commission has pre-
pared manuals OF the rules and regu-
Iatiohs to govern the commission III.
their duties; and also rules and regu-
lations to govern the police and fire.
departments. E
The ciyil service commission has
no authority to make rules governing
the administration OF those two de-
partments, except as to appointment,
promotion and discharge.
An examination Of the regulations
fer civil service shows that the com
mission is acting under d mfsconcep-
ton Of the extent Of their powers over
| the police and IRE departments.
The act relating to the civil service
of the police and fire departments or
the city and county Of Honolulu, act
81, session laws Of 1918, provides for
"a board Of police and fire commits
sioners, to be known as the Honolulu
civil service commission. !" Section
Id This section does not give them
any power as police and fire commits
sioners or as the Honolulu civil ser
vice commission.
Section 2. No person shall hold or
be appointed to any position either in
the police department or IN the fire
department of the city and county OF
Honolulu without the approval of the
commission in accordance with fits
rules and regulations"
Section, 8 provides that such COM
mission shall prepare and adopt such
rules and regulations to govern the
selection and appointment OF persons
to be employed in either the police or
fire department as in its Judgment
shall be adapted to secure the best
service in each department.
Section provides for printing the
rules and regulations for distribution,
concluding With the statement:
"and thereafter all selections Of per-
sons for employment or appointment
or proInition In either the police or
fire department shall be in accordance
Herewith"
Section 6 provides that the appoint
ees are subject to removal only accord
/ ing to the rules SO made.
These provisions constitute the es-
sence of the act AZ. -,
4 These manuals assume to enact a
complete organic law for each depart
Inent. "
In the police manual general du-
i ties are defined with complete super
vision by the commission over the de-
partment. 1t defines definitely the
i duties Of the sheriff, chief clerk, cap
ltains sergeants, detective bureau,
hack inspector, police matron and foot
and Mounted aolic There is also a
j rule IN specifis police duties.
i Rule XIII requires the sheriff to
i CI1h ORdn hn
1 make to the commission for approval
i Some of the rules" are more prop
er1y general orders for instruction to
the men, and not properly regula
4 lions. For instance, notice rule
XXI, section Z, Courtesy = be
i tween officers and men pro
4 notes discipline and tends to produce
mutual respect; and section 3, al
members of the police force are re
lquired to be always neat and clean II
their persons and habits"
i The commission also is mistaken
4 in introducing what should be ordi
finances. Under the rule for the hazel
inspector is complete set of rules
lgoyerning traffic, whereas ordinance
No. II is in regard to the same sub
fleet, and is the governing law.
Section 20 of rule XII for the guild
fanee of mounted police is also a traf
4 fic ordinance, giving ambulances the
i right of way in streets. The commits
sion has attempted to enact this sec
ton into penal statute by providing
that any violation thereof shall con
! stitute a misdemeanor.
Il This power is solely with tn,
board of supervisors. So also witt
the other powers assumed by TIN
commission in these two manuals
: other than their civil service manual
l know CT no statute giving then
| such power. The Commission de
ipends entirely upon the statute TO
: the powers exercised BY them. The,
I have no common law powers TIL