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

the City of Honolulu by giving it con
tlol OF its own proper Y. anl the other
! the power TO revise or make n new
charter The principal Of local gov
eminent is not new one in the
islands. but it has been recognized by
law since 1910. during the reign OF
Kamehameha III. The law at that
time provided that if 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 see1 Of self-povernmert 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 he
gun to sprout. and ] believe il viii
continued to grow j -.
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
borrow money. He spoke of the two
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 authorizeds 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.
! Andrews for Suffrage.
The next speaker. of the evening
was Lorrin Andrews, who gained ia
, Nor 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, ''it is going to see
that every woman in the islands is
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 nen-partisan and non-political.
i but for all the people irrespective of
their creed or party. He then read
: the resolutions. Following his talk,
e., John c. Lane stirred the Hawaiians
present by with lengthy speech, and
: then Chairman Carter stepped to the
front of the platform and asked for
vote on the resolutions. They were
adopted unanimously, not single
! mo" being heard However, several
! persons said they did not hear the
!, chairman pcall for !. thee mo" vote.
; Charles Achi, who was in the audi.
Gnce, jumped upon chair and de-
panded that the resolutions be
i amended to provide for the immediate
transfer of the property held by the
territory to the city.
The last three speakers on the list
were Ed Towse, Col. C. j. Mccarthy
end 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 Adult,
William Isaacs, Judge Mahaulu, Chas.
I4ustace, 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.