Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-23
A STATEMENT OF VIEWS.

. WoedlaNn, Manoa Valley. June Il.
Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Sir: As candidate for election to
the charter convention from the third
precinct OF the fourth district, | deem
II advisable that my position on the
main points which should be covered
in a new charter for the city be made
a matter of record. To this end trust
[ that you will give this letter such pub
Iicity as the circumstances may war
rant.
/ j believe in municinaf government
by an elective commission. There
should be FIVE commissioners. elected
at large. for term of four years and
| all OF the powers of the city and
county should be concentrated in this
4 board. A commissioner should be
| elected simply as such and not eX-
/ pressiy designated as the head Of any
/ department of the municipality. They
should themselves elect one OF their
| number to act as mayor. The depart
ments OF the city should be allotted by
| the mayer among the several commits
sioners and thereafter each commits
sioner, as the head OF a department.
becomes solely and fully responsible
! for the operation of his department.
/ The head of each department, being
responsible fer its efficiency. should
/ have the sole power Of appointing and
removing all subordinate officials and
! employees of that department The
/ salaries of the commissioners and all
officials and employees Of the city
should be fixed by law.
The mayor should have the general
superintendent Of all city business
and be provided with such staff Of
assistants as would enable him to per-
fern his duties in an effective manner.
He should preside at all meetings OF
the commission with power to vote
but no power to veto. r.. ~.~.;. -.
There should be a treasury depart
ment with control of the city revenue
and disbursements, having under 1t
bureau of audit and statistics.
believe in the short ballot. The
administration of the affairs Of city
is entirely a matter of business and
as no occasion exists for a division OF
the citizenship upon arbitrary political
lines the ballot should be nonpartisan
and without party emblems or devices.
The only names to appear on the ballot
should be those of the candidates for
the commissionership; all other Off
Gals Of the city should be appointed
by the commission and hold Office un-
der the tenure of satisfactory service
only. gfs r %-..,.. T.:
/ believe in the recaH. When re.
spons.bility is centered In an individ-
ual the people should have the power
to make that individual attend to bust
ness and give satisfaction or he should
be recalled and another elected in his
place. ...-::.. ...':
believe that the city should have
the full sanitary and public health
powers under its sole control.
believe that the city should have
extended powers In the matter OF f.
nance, the. raising and collection OF
revenue for current and extraordinary
expenses and the issuing of bonds for
specific public improvements, the lat
ter after reference to plebiscite. In
this connection, it should initiate a
comprehensive plan which would fore.
see and allow for the gradual growth
of the city and the yearly improve
ments necessitated thereby and should
provide a coherent system of financing
the same; this should pass from CON-
mission to commission and should
form the main working plan for all ma.
jor public improvements of the future.
l am opposed to the city manager
system and to the application Of the
initiative and referendum to the city
of Honolulu. . - -. ...-
believe. that the coming charter
convention should. undertake a com
plete scientific study of the present
charter; the powers granted under 1t
should be tabulated and its shortcom-
ings noted. Co-ordinating with this
there should be thorough investiga-
ton of the present and future needs
of the community and d study Of the
machinery whereby such needs may
be most efficiently met 49,. -.
The great function Of the city is car.
ing for its own needs Streets must
be paved and new streets constructed,
sewers must be built, police and fire
departments maintained at the highest
pitch of efficiency, public health must
be safeguarded, the poor given relief.
Add to this multiplicity of duties
the deliberative meetings required /
over financial questions and the for.
nation Of budgets, the proper consid.
Grafton of contracts and the legislative
ordinances requiring action and we
soon realize that the machinery of an
efficiently governed community must
be such as viii permit of smooth run
ming. This can be obtained only by
wide and ample powers secured to the
city in its charter of Incorporation.
FRANCIS ]. GREEN.