Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-05
Majority Report of Sub Com.
mittee on Charter Adopted
!. BY Committee of is

In favor Of the majority report:
Joseph ). Fern Lorrin Andrews, les
se uiuihi, Clarence crabbe, Edward
p. Foaarty, Eli J. Crawford, {. ]. Gay,
z. X. Aiu. Opposed to majority re-
port were =. J. Green, A. W., Eanes,
y. 8. Johnson, Charles N. Arnold and
G. r. Bush. ~s~:sss -
After two hours and half of argu-
ment the committee OF Is Of the char
ter convention adopted the majority
report Of its subcommittee of five last
night by a vote of eight to five.
Throughout the discussion the objec-
tions were generally started from q
group Of four men sitting side by side
at one end of the line OF tables In the
supervisors assembly hall. The four
men were Francis j. Green, @. r.
Bush, H s. Johnson and Alfred w.
Eames. and on almost every question
the solid four picked up one auxiliary.
Overwhelmed four to one in the sub
committee, the feature of the discus
sion last night was the strength Of the
progressive minority five votes out
of 10! .s... 4 ~. ,za.s
As finally adopted by the commit
tee, the report Of the subcompittee
was literally amended.
The civil service in the city and
county Of Honolulu was wiped out.
The supervisors were fixed at four
from each representative district. can
didates for mayor to run at large.
The right to SIT on the board OF
equalization and taxation with the su.
peryisors was taken from the heads OF
departments. making the latter abso-
lltely administrative offices and the
former entirely legislative
Twenty sections we're lifted at one
move when the parts of the report
having to do with the frontage tax
were stricken out by practically un-
animous vote The tenure Of office
was limited to two years.
Gay Backs Referendum. I
A change OF great Importance was
the introduction Of the referendum on
She motion OF E. ]. Gay. BY his mo-
ton any amendment to the charter
may be made on the petition of 80 per
cent Of the voters.
Talks by Lorrin Andrews, represent
ing the majority report of the sub
committee, and Francis Green, repre-
senting the minority, opened the meet
ing. Andrews explained his position
with his accustomed force and clarity.
The only need for the short bal.
lot," he said, SIS to see that the indi-
yidual is not obscured by the office,
and we can secure this result by the
report which the subcommittee rem
ders TO you. ] have here q book writ
ten by q great authority on the sub
ject, and he has to say upon the point
of the short ballot !"
When was the book printed, Lor
rim, called gentle voice from the
rear.
In 1911, said Andrews, but
mere matter Of four years makes no.
difference in thing like this"
The minority smiled
It was q hard blow to Andrews ar.
gument, for he had evidently center
ed his efforts around the knockout
which would be supplied by the quo.
tation from the book. He wound up
by making rambling defense Of the
ward system as the opposition Papers
choose to call our plan. He also
mentioned the fact that the mayor
should be given the power OF appoint
ing magistrates.
Francis ]. Green, In reply, sketched
briefly the causes why he was in
opposition to the majority.
Ward System Corrupt.
i cast my first vote in 1884 for
James q. Blaine said Green. 81 cast
that vote In New York. New York
used the ward system. In New York
at that time to be connected with poll.
tics was to be damned forever. Peo-
pie who went through those times I'M
der the rule of ignorance and corrup-
ton are not apt TO forget what the
ward system means" go
Passing briefly from point to point
Mr., Green stated that the creation of
the new office, the superintendent OF
city works. is fun OF danger.
He should not be elected. II is too
great d danger to allow an office of
such immense importance lie open to
the schemes Of the politicians" #
Furthermore, he showed that the
new officer, the great feature of the
charter, is not by any means
a compromise with the city manager
idea. - - =
Charles N. Arnold and Alfred w.
Eames bitterly opposed the proposed
division of the city into the two rep
districts for the purpose
OF electing the supervisors. Arnold
demanded representation for taxation,
but he did not want the supervisors
Of one district pitted against those of
smother. 49,
Cites Fifth District.
Fighting for the election at large,
he pointed out that the fifth district