Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-04
SETTLE THE CIVIL SERVICE QUESTION

Mayor Fern has finally named a new civil
service commission. The supervisors have con-
firmed his nominations
The justifiable presumption is that the mayor
and the board of supervisors will give the new
board the support to which it is entitled. That
support was lacking for the previous board, par
ticularly on the part of the mayor.
During the short term of the first board arose
a serious question that has been left as an un-
welcome but necessary heritage for the present
commissioners. 1t is the question of Jurisdiction
and it is of such Importance as to be perhaps the
first big duty that confronts the new commits
sioners-to settle it once and for all.
The first civil service board took the position
that under the Legislative act of 1918 by which
it was created, it was given wide discretionary
powers of administration over the police and fire
departments Thecommission drew up rules for
the conduct and regulation Of these departments
and proceeded to enforce them.
When the first bills for expenditures by the
commission reached the supervisors there was
row that is still unpleasantly fresh in memory.
The supervisors then raised the questioned iur.
isdiction, taking the attitude that the civil serv
ice commission was no more than board to
oversee examination of candidates for the two
departmental $500. Il, y
The stand determinedly taken by the super
yisors, and the mayors easy going refusal to
take any definite position for himself, checked
the progress of civil service at once and effect
ually Chairman Writ, and Commissioners
Doyle and Knpihea, an Of whom had given plen.
tyof hard work TO the commission, we're practis
cally repndiated
This was just prior to the close of the first
term OF the commissioners. which ended Deem
Der 81 last. Now a new commission has been
named
II it is to be a civil service commission in any
thing more thansa name, it must have powers
There is no question that the intent of the last
legislature was to create a board that would ad.
minister the police and fire departments on an
efficiency basis, that would, SO far as possible,
take those departments out of petty and parti-
san politics. Unfortunately the law is not clear
upon the extent to which the commission is Civ.
en- powers. AT least it is not clear enough to
convince the supervisors legal adviser, Deputy
Attorney Weaver, that the commission is more
than an examining board Good legal author
ity differs with Mr.. Weaver on this point, but in
view of his opinion, the supervisors acted rightly
in denying the commissions broader powers
Until this serious question is settled by the
supreme court of Hawaii, the civil service com
mission can do no valuable or permanent work.
Furthermore, if the decision of the supreme
court holds with the deputy city attorney, the
next legislature must be asked to so amend the
aetof 1913 as to give the commission those rights
and powers necessary to make it civil service
1t is clearly one of the first duties of the new
commissioner to carry this question to the SUI
preme court and have it settled, and then to get
to work on the basis of the supreme courts de
cision. q
TIRE HEADLIGHT MENACE