Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-08-09


the success or failure OF any govern
mental form. nevertheless, II Is ike.
wise true that the form has it's share
in this regard and from what We have
experienced here since its adoption
have no hesitancy IN declaring In its
favor.
Now to answer your specific inqui-
fies:
Commission government has been IN
operation here since July 1, 1913.
The initiative; referendum and the
recall are Incorporated into our char
ter; they are also constitutional am
epdrnents or state laws, having been
voted into existence by the people
themselves.
Referendums have been filed socca,
sionhlly and initiative measures also.
but these need occasion no special
annoyance, inconvenience or expense
as all ordinances or laws, whether
state or city. are presented or at least
may be presented at regular elections.
The Recall.
The recall. which by many Is regard
cd as perhaps the most advanced step
of an III the socalled Oregon govern
mental system. has been used once IN
the case Of member of the city coun.
ell. but under former charter; he
was recalled. At the present time
recall agitation has resulted at this
writing in the filing of recall petitions
against commissioners Dieck, Brews-
Ter and myself. Mote: At the cleo
tion on October 81. the recall move
f1ent was Overwhelmingly defeated.)
Owing to the peculiar local situation,
WIN regard to the recall law, perhaps
brief explanation of the situation.
may be Of some value 10 you. The
law, according to the city attorney
and other competent lawyers, As said
- be INADEQUATE or unfinished; that
Is. the people voted the recall into be.
inf. but the law was not complete
within itself and apparently needs
further legislation to make It whole.
There is no safeguard against its use
for vicious, mischievous or petty pur-
poses. as for example, no limit is set
IS to the time ii which positions may
BE filed. Recall petitions were obtain
ed against Sheriff Weird more than a
year ago: they have. never been filed.
bit could be, under this law. any time.
Another batch Of petitions were OBJ
t3|ned against Commissioners Dieck
n,I1 Brewster and myself many months
aeb. but we're never filed.
I'|SraIlty I Danger.
Another feature regarded as unfair !
4 that under court decision, any
LEGAL voter is, in our state. q man
or woman who, whether registered or
not. Is eligible TO vote II registered;
IN 81 her words, one need not be regis
tered at The time OF signing such petit !
ton. thus making II possible for the
81 |..6lI 10 petition Tor the recall 81 !
any official at any time, and making It /
practically impossible to check the
lists to detect possible Illegal sigma
n the present recall it Is generally |
admitted that It Is being engineered
81 disgruntled politicians, ex-office
holders, ETC., who were put out Of bus
inees BY the people under the new
charter. and particularly by the wo-
men Of the city. and by the use for the /
inst time Of the preferential voting
system. Our three big daily 1iewspa-
pers are fighting the recall and de-
nounce It unreseryedly.
A 10 the question Of adopting your
charter without the recall feature,
H0S,ld say that Il depends much on
local conditions. Personally, believe
N the recall as a safeguard against
situations that might develop
ii cannot be harmful to the
i.,,,,o..s r,fffr.ia1 nfovf6ed II be 90 tram. i