Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-08-10

Mayor AIbee, of Portland, Oregon, writing
10 the Star Bulletin of the success of com
mission government in his city, SAYS of the
.'recall'':
AS to the question OF adopting your charter with
out the recall feature would say that il depends
much local conditions Personally. | believe in
the recall a safeguard against possible situations
that might develop anywhere; II cannot be harmful
the honest official provided il be so framed as 70
be fair TO ALL but should suggest that your recall
law, no matter when Incorporated, be given great
and careful study to the end that IL shall be SO con-
strued as TO be only what 1t is intended to bean
emergency measure for the protection of the people
against possible frauds in Office
He points out as evils to be guarded against
the following:
Allowing recall petitions to be. filed long
after the signatures on them We're secured; IN
other words, holding the petitions as club
over the heads of officials.
Allowing signatures to petitions of those not
registered, making it almost impossible to
check fraudulent signing.
Allowing comparatively small number of
signatures to force recall election.
1t is significant, however, that though Mayor
Albee frankly states that the recall plan has
been invoked against him by disgruntled poll
fcians and others, he does not believe the recall
itself is an evil provision. He does insist that
II should be so surrounded by restrictions that
its use is possible only in times of real emer-
gency, when very large part of the voters are
reused to Dust thoroughly incompetent or
corrupt official.
a.Of the.initiative and referendum he says that
in Portland measures presented by these meth
DDS are voted on only at regular elections Thus
the expense and annoyance of special elections
are avoided
The StarvBulletin is not inclined to favor the
initiative and referendum here except as
emergency plans. Honolulu's voting popula-
ton is n6t-as advanced as Portland's. Oregon
is admittedly the leader of all the states in so
called progressive governmental methods. The
Oregon voter is used to handling ballot con-
tanning many public measures calling for a fay
cradle or adverse vote. In Honolulu a ballot
loaded down with Legislative propositions
would confuse the majority OF voters and dis
tract attention from the men running for Office.
The Star-BulIetin shares the opinion OF many
Students of municipal government here IN
thinking that what we need is more attention
naid to nlen-to their ability, character and un-
selfshness. If good men are elected to the
city's legislative body, whether 1t be board
of supervisors or a commission, they will care
for measures far better than can the voter at
the polls. Platforms will pledge them before
hand in favor of carrying out the big things
necessary, and the small things have no place
In the initiative and referendum. Furthermore,
IN Honolulu particularly it will be difficult to
get good men into the legislative positions II
the important measures must generally be
voted on by the people and perhaps beaten by
prejudice or partisan politics.
Mayor Albee touches the heart OF the Whole
matter in his closing paragraph. be says:
Commission government in Portland is working
very well. ! view il; and it is plan which
brings the people into closer touch with their
officials. OF course. much depends upon the
struction of charter, but generally speaking it is
big step in advance. The mere adoption of
form. however. will remedy all of the evils that
beset city; once having governmental form.
your important work viii be the selection of
honest, competent and fearless officials to admin
lister the same
And that is obviously correct-so obviously
that sometimes it will be forgotten.