The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-10-08
SHORT BALLOT OR
NOTHING DOLE
Former President Outlines His
Views On Charter Advance
ment-Need For Education

The Civic Federation, Chamber of
Commerce and other unoacial bodies
are commencing to line up with the
Municipal Research Club in demand
ppon the charter convention for somo-
thing decidedly more advanced IN the
way Of new charter for Honolulu
than the one decided upon by the ma.
lority of the committee of five and en-.
dorsed by the majority Of the commit
tee Of fifteen, which will be presented
10 the convention on Tuesday evening.
Although these organizations do not
agree amongst themselves on any ex-
aet lines, they do agree on the neces.
sity Of elections at large and the elimi.
nation of Offices that consist of moth.
ing hut politics and salary.
IL Is understood that q strong fight
viii be made by the minority in tile
cnyention for straight eomniission
20 replace the board of supervisors
with the commissioners elected each 20
head specific department and TO ap.
point and be responsible for the exc.
,utive head Of the department.
City Manager Plan 49,. "
The Civic Federation desires a city
manager, appointed by an elected
Soard, as does the Municipal Research
Club, but there are many who do not
Feel that such a radical accomplishment
could be carried out. Judge Sanford
B Dole is one Of these. His sugges.
ton is that the city manager should
be elected, with a recall held over
Inn. The judge is an advocate of the
aIa Halll nN nj IL. 4
20 alter the existing law until the
thange brings with il this reform. in
: letter to- Chairman LOrrin Andrews
NJ the charter convention, Judge Dole
cts forth his views, as follows:
Follow a High Ideal
''Mr. Lorrin Andrews, Honolulu, T. II.
Dear Sir:-Upon thinking over the
question of the short ballot l am
more convinced than ever that it's
adoption here as to executive officials
is vital to any improvement in the
government of Oahu. You are fami
lar with the arguments pro and con
md are also, l believe, convinced as
am, but have grave doubts whether il
can be carried through in legislation
81 have my doubts also as to that,
n the immediate future, but | fee
hat we should press for its adoption,
and not be discouraged by any failure
to carry it, but should persevere and
keep up n campaign of education on
he subject.
Cannot Fail to Impress
1.-THE example of the adoption OF
the principle of the short ballot by
municipalities and States on the main
and cannot fail to impress the voters
If Oahu. When they remember that
he election Of executive officials OF
the government of the United State,
s under such a system and that the
great State of New York, the STATE
which has long been considered as the
one whose vote is likely to be decisive
IF presidential elections, has just sug
gested the short ballot for its owl
executive, through its constitutions
convention, they will have somethint
worth while to think about on the sub
iect-those who think at all on poll
teal questions.
Perpetuating Vicious Policy
eff, however, we give up the scheme
and fall back on the long ballot anr
Try to make that do. we are only fast
ming vicious policy all the more
firmly upon our political system. Tho
unthinking voter would be fortife'
in his view that the longer the ballO'
the greater his political power. Rattle
han attempt to revise our present City
and County Act in this direction, W.
had better leave it where it is.
Research Ideal Hopeless
81 am inclined to doubt whether the
provision Of the Research Club $ thnta
tive draft Of a charter providing for
city manager appointed by the su
Jervisors would carry here, even b,
'ong and persistent effort. Is not thu
'cheme of a city manager elected at
he polls and subject to recall goo
enough to work for, and most likely
% be accepted eventually by thu
Votersf II has the hoary preceden'
If the United States government ant
he recent action Of the State of New
York to recommend it, beside | do not
know how many of the newly revised
municipal governments of the main
land.
Elected Manager
~ would suggest for Oahu some
thing like the following for considera
ton: Nine elected supervisors in three
classes, each class of three to serve
for four years, without pay. An elect
ed city manager to serve for four years
subject to recall.
"The powers of the supervisors tc
be legislative only, including the ap
preparation of city moneys, excepting
that upon the death, resignation or dis
ability of the manager, they shall aP
point a temporary manager to admin
lister the executive power until the
next election; the managers appoint
ment and dismissal of the heads of the
city departments shall be subject tC
their confirmation, and they shall aP
point the auditor.
All Necessary Power
"The powers Of the manager to in
clude all obviously necessary executive
powers for the administration Of the
city government, subject to the con
firmation by the supervisors Of his ap-
pointments and dismissals of the heads
of the executive departments, which
shall be the treasurer, the superintend-
ent of public works, the district at
tOrney, and the sheriff, and, perhaps
a health officer. The appointments AMI
dismissals by the heads Of departments
of their foFemen or heads of bureaus