Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-13
MOVE IS MADE FOR new CHARTER
At LARGELY -ATTENDFD Meeting

me city OF Honolulu by giving Il con-
tlol of its own properly, ani the other
the power 10 revise or make 4 new
charter The principal of local gov
eminent is not new one IN the
! Islands, but ii las been recognized by
! law since 1910. during the reign OF
kamehameha Ill. The law at that
, time provided that n any person be-
came dissatisfied and considered
! themselves afflicted because of the alb
sence of laws to suit their needs. they
could have a special meeting Of the
people of the village called and make
/ and pass the required laws, providing
that these laws did not interfere with
The laws of the kingdom. But this
little SenI Of self-governuent hos re-
manned buried under the idea of CEN
tralized government which has pre-
vailed for years. Since the annexa-
ton. however. this little seed has Ia
gun to sprOut. and ! believe it will
continued to grow" ~....:.- .-'.'
| Mr.. Robertson then went on to point
out the faults of the present charter.
Honolulu, he said, does not own or
control its streets, waterworks, lights
nor jails; it cannot impose taxes or
last items as being absolutely neces-
sary for modern city. He said that,
While the Organic Act stood in the
way of the government at one time,
that this act had been amended by
congress in 1910, whereby the title to
any public property in possession of
the territory may be transferred to
the territory by the president, and by
the territory to any city. when the
governor is authorized to take such
action by the legislature. He closed
by saying that he saw no reason why
the legislature should not act under
the powers given it in 1910. and at
once give the City of Honolulu its
! due rights and privileges. - -. =. J.:
! Andrews for Suffrage.
The next speaker of the evening
was Lorrin Andrews, who gained IA
1or at once by referring to the large
number of women present at the meet
ing. +''If this committee ever sue
ceeds in getting city government for
Honolulu" he said, sit is going to see
that every woman in the islands is
i given a chance to vote He then
went on to explain the object of the
meeting, his speech being translated
into Hawaiian He said that the meet
ing was non-partisan and non-political,
! but for all the people irrespective of
their creed or party He then read
! the resolutions. Following his talk,
John c. Lane stirred the Hawaiians
present by with a lengthy speech, and
! then Chairman Carter stepped to the
| front of the platform and asked for
Il vote on the resolutions. They were
adopted unanimously, not single
mo- being heard. However, several
!. PERSONS said they did not hear the
chairman call for the mo" vote.
: Charles Achi, who was in the audi
ence, jumped upon chair and de-
manded that the resolutions be
amended to provide for the immediate
transfer of the property held by the
territory to the city. ,-.. ID
| The last three speakers on the list
! we're Ed Towse, Col. c. J. Mccarthy
and James Rath. Messrs Towse and
Mccarthy told what the possession Of
its powers and privileges would do
-! for Honolulu, while Mr.. Rath spoke
principally with regard to the present
condition of the Palama Settlement,
and what could be accomplished along
the lines of fighting tuberculosis and
other diseases if the city were en-
dowed with its rightful powers.
The committee of seven which was
appointed by Chairman Carter, will
, set to work at once to draft an en-
abling act for presentation to the
, legislature and will further seek its
passage before that body. Besides
Chairman Carter, those occupying
seats on the stage were Ed Towse,
Chief Justice Robertson, Noah Aluli.
; William Isaacs. Judge Mahaulu, Chas.
Ilustace, Col. C.. ]. Mccarthy, James
Rath. Abraham Fernandez, John C..
Lane, R. w. Aylett, and D. Kalauoka-
/ lani, Sr. A number of the members
OF the present legislature graced the
two front rows of chairs in the audi.