Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-03
WILL THEY RISE TO IT?


and duties of the beard Of supervisors; and as
those powers and duties have grown and deyel-
oped, so grow and develop the responsibilities Of
the seven men Honolulu has elected to constitute
the Legislative branch of municipal government
What are these seven men going to do with
the new responsibilities? How are they going to
stand up to their mans task Of administering
the public functions Of this city?
Is there to be petty factonalsm? Is there to
be wasteful and foolish pickering?
1t is to be doubted if many citizens realize
what added responsibilities the legislature of
1913 has put upon the supervisors of this city
and county A brief summary Of the more i'm
portant measures charging the scope of city gov
eminent is to the point:
1.-The city and county is authorized TO build
roads to homestead tracts to assist settlers
21Two bills, known as the Judd bills, were
passed which provide for local improvements
upon petition of prOperty-owners These laws
are exceedingly far-reaching. Property benefit
ed by the improvement of streets pay for the
work method of opening and widening streets
is provided together with plan for the issuance
of local improvement bonds. Equipped with
these two laws, Honolulu may step from the
status of halffledged village to city in fact as
we'll as name
3-The control of streets and highways has
been transferred definitely. from the superin-
PENDENT of public works to the board of super
visors In the past there have been dual and
conflicting powers with considerable uncertain
ty as to jurisdiction. Now the control of streets
and highways in this city is squarely under the
supervisors H6
A further addition to the above is provided
in a law authorizing the supervisors to establish
lines and street grades.
affecting directly the financing of the Ho-
nolulu of the future is a new law under which
the counties are empowered TO issue bonds. The
~sinews of war; for internal development, for
spu6fie improvements ON large and permanent
scale, are here.
6-The control of the public parks is trans
ferred to the city and county fathers. In anoth-
en- bill, Kapiolan Park is definitely turned over
to supervisorial control.
THE supervisors are authorized to assist
the Hawaii Promotion Committee.
San exceedingly important act transfers
the water and sewer works of Honolulu from the
territory to the city and county The municipal
fty is charged with the responsibility for build
ing up a great water system and a sewer system
adequate for the city of the future.
9-Ciyil service has been established for the
police and the fire departments. Though the
naming of the civil service commission rests with
the mayor much of the success of its operation
will rest with the policy of the supervisors
10-The mayor is given power to fill vacan-
cies in municipal office, by and with the consent
of the supervisors.
In addition to the foregoing, there are num-
Der of less striking but important acts bringing
new duties for the supervisors to fulfill.
County government in Hawaii has gone
through a long and sometimes bitter fight Its
foes are always ready to proclaim it a failure, to
point back to the good old days. And yet
county government has steadily progressed. The
ideals of this day and generation are for large
measure of local self-government, and the
strength of these ideals have forced the way for
municipal government in spite of powerful OPP
position. So it is that the legislature of 1913, i'll
response to the demand of the people, has given
TO Honolulu the chance to throw off the swad-
dling-clothes and grow into full stature. Only
childish folly, childish squabblng will prevent
that growth.
The people of Honolulu look to the supervi-
sors elected to represent the people, to rise above
the ouarrels of children and meet the responsible
;t;es of men. Responsibilities have not been
1: barotofore. they are rpdouhlpd now