Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-26

cf the people kept City Attorney Cathcart ia office
because he is efficient. The of the Republicans
went down to defeat. but the men who had proved
their ability returned office The people de-
mand efficiency and whether the party designation
the efficient man is Republican Democrat mat
tiers little That is the basic fact behind the hun
dreds of independent votes that cast last No
yember to put the present office holders in power.
Then came fhe reversal of attitude-due very
largely to pressure Of partisan politics-With a
suddenness that was ludicrons. The indications
we're apparent when ON February 3. 1913, the
Star Bulletin published this editorially:
4The supervisors went into office with consider
able shouting about economy They slashed salaries
right and left There was to be notable reduction
IL the high cost Of running the city. Three weeks
passed The city fathers have gained reputation
for trying to the taxpayers money. Up go the
salaries Only one member. Pacheco, stood out
against the plan to put figures back just what
they used TO be. Is this economy? Verify, no.
Time after time during the next five months
the supervisors we're urged to go slow, to guard
prudently and determinedly the citys financial
resources, to disregard patronage politics and
live up to their pledge with the people for eff
cheney and economy. Did they do it?
The middle of their first year came along,
md with it the adoption of new six months
budget. The files of the Star Bulletin of June
f6tell the story A news story in a two-eolumn
head said:
RAISING SALARIES, SUPERVISORS
ABANDON EARLY 4EC0NOMYr PLANS
Majority Approve Program Calling for Many In
Increases-Mayor Fern and Pacheco Oppose
NM MouQv To Re Snpnt ON food Road
general salary raise for city and county SUBJ
ordinates whose pay cut program Iof econ
omy by the Democratic administration six months
ago is now the proposal of the admin straton
The board of supervisors and the mayof met in =
lengthy caucuses yesterday afternoon and evening
to go over the budget for the next six month"; They
decided upon total budget of something over
$4S44S0 the figures to be worked out later of
which s109.s00 will go into permanent street and
road-improyements
They also approved a long list of increases in
monthly salaries. by which most of the economies
III this direction effected at the beginning of their
of office will be lost The city hall and other
municipal employees who then visited with a
salary be restored their former pay and
in several instances there will be material raises
This part Of the caucus program was not decided
upon until after strong opposition the part Of
both Mayor Fern and Supervisor Pacheco.
EultoIlsIy OM TIT SAINT ustlc liilS psipsI 'OIl-
mented:
@Honolulus Democratic board of supervisors, go
ing into office six months ago baring the trumpets
Of economy and promising the taxpayers money
saving administration, is even now on the verge OF
general salary-raise that is entirely unwarranted
. at this time.
Now it is proposed--and the proposal seems
likely to be carried into action-to the sala
ries in to the original figures. In several
conspicuous instances Democratic officeholders
whose pay had not originally been cut are to share,
IL the present general increase.
"Cool wisdom is the necessity OF the day in Ha-
waits business affairs. With sugar at low price
and the immediate tariff situation not the brightest
il is the part of acumen to go slow in adding to
financial responsibilities be month by
month. Clearly there is warrant for the super
yisors in view of the business situation and the cry
ing need for many permanent improvements, to
add one dollar to an already unjustifiable load of
running expenses for this city and county
The raises we're made; department expenses
we're allowed to grow and grow and grow.
If the supervisors had stayed manfully by
their announced program of economy, the blow
would not now fall so.heavily 1t would not be
necessary to cripple city departments as they
are to be crippled.
The day of spending has gone; the reckoning
is at hand; the bill must be paid.
And the voters, particularly the taxpayers, OF
the city and county are not going to forget the
fact -
II. p. Wood assures Hawaii that the EXPOSE
ton will be there in 1915 when all of us 60 up