The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-02-18
commissioners
WILL DRAW PAY
Amendment in New Charter
Made at Instance of Mayor
The Recall Percentage.
From Saturday Advertiser.

Mayor Jay Fern made his record
speech at the meeting of the charter
committee held in the senate chamber
last night. In a snappy speech, with
"punch'' to it, the chief executive
of the city went on record as saying
that "this here what you call commits
sion government will not take with the
Hawaiian people,"
However, before adjournment came,
the mayor was partially won over to
the side of those who are fighting for
model form of government, and it is
believed that by providing salary
for the five commissioners who will
serve, Mayor Fern S great objection
was removed.
Governor Frear presided at the meet
secretary pro TEN. There was not a
two of the 143 provisions in the pro-
every side, several additional amend
ments were carried, and excellent
progress was made. The meeting final
ly adjourned until next Thursday night
at eight o'clock, when the remaining
secJiohs VIII DC ulscusseu dJ Jhe CITY
hall
"My belief is that this here new
what you call commission government
will not take with Hawaiian people, y
said the mayor. A few of the Ha-
| waiian leaders would tell the people
that this new form would take away
your franchise. l, as Hawaiian, hear
this every day, They come to me one
| hundred at n time asking me, here
Joe, what about this new commission
form of government The only way
to bring this about is to give the people
chance to vote first what they want
then it can be fixed up.
Wouldn't Run Himself.
"When it comes to election of com
missioners without pay, that is moi
good. There is not one Hawaiian who
would run. 1, myself, would not so do
That manager part is not good. Look
what they do with me with my CHIEF
Of fire Department. ! say give com
mission power to remove manager. -
The mayor was assured that the
charter would confer this power by
majority vote.
| HWe have too much that majority
rule now," said the mayor, again re
| ferring to his troubles with the fire de
partment appointment. His objection
to the commissioners was finally over
come with the agreement to provid,
| for salary for these elective officer
and to an agreement to allow them Il
also hold offices outside of the city
| government.
All in all, according to those whit
have followed the mayor, it is said hi
speech last evening was the most lucit
he has yet made showing that he hal
given considerable thought to thu
charter and it's provisions.
1t was finally decided that the nam'
of the city under the new charter will
be simply the city of Honolulu, in
stead of the city and county of Homo
lulu as at present.
Recall Percentage Lowered.
A slight change was also made in tn
provision for recall, making it neces
sary to secure the signatures of TWEEN
ty.fve per cent OF the registered vot
ers instead of thirty per cent of tn
vote for commissioners at the proceed
ing election, as had been specified.
The preferential method of election
was also changed 10 allow the name
of all candidates 10 remain on the bal
lot should selection not be made by tn
voters in expressing their first choice
For a time II looked as II the ap
paFenily complex problem offered b!
the preferential system would be elimi
mated. w, r. RAwlins stated that b.
believed II would be dinienlt 20 inatrne
tho average voter Aa 10 the merits o
this system and that they would no
accept Il until they had been educate
up 10 lie value.