Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-26
REAPlNG THE CONSEQUENCES HURT BY NATIONAL POLICY
HURT BY WEAK MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION

WEAK MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION
Republican in office because is efficient the win
Of people kept City Attorney Cathcart in office
because he is efficient The OF the Republicans
went down to defeat but the men who had proved
their ability returned to office The people de-
mand efficiency and whether the party designation
OF the efficient is Republican or Democrat mat
ters little. That is the basic fact behind the hum
dreds Of independent votes that cast last No
vember to put the present office-holders in power
Then came the reversal of attitude-due very
largely to pressure of partisan politics with q
suddenness that was ludicrous The indications
were apparent when on February 3, 1913, the
Star Bulletin published this editorially:
"The supervisors went into office with consider
able shouting about economy. They slashed salaries
right and left There was to be notable reduction
III the high cost OF running the city Three weeks
passed The city fathers have gained reputation
for trying to save the taxpayers money Up go the
salaries Only one member. Pacheco, stood out
against the plan to put figures back just what
they used 10 be. Is this economy? Verify, no"
Time after time during the next five months
the supervisors were urged to go slow, to guard
prudently and determino1ly the city's 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
and with it the adoption of new six months
budget The files of the Star Bulletin of June
'16 tell the story. A news story in a two-columl
head said:
RAISING SALARIES, SUPERVISORS
ABANDON EARLY ECONOMY. PLANS
Majority Approve Program Calling for Many In
Increases-Mayor Fern and Pacheco Oppose
Much Money To Be Spent on Good Roads Work
general salary raise for city and county sub
ordinates whose pay was cut on program of econ
omy by the Democratic administration six months
ago is now the proposal of the same administration
The board or supervisors and the mayor met in
lengthy caucuses yesterday afternoon and evening
to 90 over the budget for the next six months They
decided upon a total budget of something over
s4344s0 the exact figures to be worked out later of
which siGs,sO0 will go into permanent street. and
road-mprovements.
They also approved a long list of increases in
monthly salaries by which most of the economies
IL this direction effected at the beginning of their
term Of office will lost The city hall and other
municipal employees who were then visited with
salary cut be restored to their former and
in several instances there will be material raises.
This part of the caucus program was not decided
upon until after strong opposition on the part of
both Mayor Fern and Supervisor Pacheco.
Editorially on the same date this paper com
mented:
'Honolulu's Democratic board of supervisors, go
inc into office six months ago blaring the trumpets
of economy and promising the taxpayers money
saving administration, is the verge of
general salaryraise that is entirely unwarranted
at this time
Nov it is proposed-and the proposal seems
likely to be carried into actionto restore the sala
in most 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 a low price
and the immediate tariff situation not the brightest
it is the part of acumen to go slow in adding to
financial responsibilities that must be met month by
month. Clearly there is warrant for the super
vsors, view of the business situation and the
ing need for many permanent improvements, to
add one dollar to an already uniustifiable load of
running expenses for this city and county.
The raises were made; department expense
were allowed to grow and grow and grow.
If the supervisors had stayed manfully b
their announced program of economy, the bloN
would not now fall SO heavily. 1t would not b
necessary to cripple city departments as the
are to be crippled.
The day of spending has gone; the reekonn
is at hand; the bill must be paid.
And the voters, particularly the taxpayers, O
the city and county are not going to forget til
fact