Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-28
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lit TO say that not even China or Rus
liza. backward in political genius as
TREY may seem, were without some
forms OF local government in 1893,
Iwhen county government was in
stalled in Hawaii. We had nothing
tt7 build On, but il Is my firm con-
yiction that the people of Hawaii are
better satisfied today titan they would
have been had not the painful process
cf education in the handling Of local
affairs been begun To deny that
local government is not a good thing
for Hawaii is to deny the foundations
of American government.
| Tut what is the matter with Homo
| lulu? ..
We need municiDal government
with more responsibility and more au,
thority. Everywhere else it has been
shown that this is the cure for inef-
| ficiency. The rule should be applied
here and by the Legislature Of 1917.
| Hoping that this letter may start
/ something" ! venture to suggest three
| things which IL made into the statutes
will give our municipality a chance to
really be an American city.
! Fix Tax-rate
| First; would let the supervisors
! fix the tax-rate each year, the limit
| to be only the needs of the city and
| the supervisors desire OF reelection.
The present machinery for asses
sing and collecting taxes IS efficient
and cheap. We are familiar with it
and it is honestly administered. 1t
should, therefore, not be. thrown over.
board in favor OF any other system.
/ My reason for removing the restric,
! ton On the, taX-rnte is that, the city
needs the money but more than it
| needs the money it needs the per-
sonal Interest in sits affairs Of every
| American resident This it does not
now have and know of no other way
Of rudely quienening their apathy than
by, in the way suggested, making a
direct connection between the prop.
erty taxes paid by the citizen and his
ballot for the office of supervisor. /
believe our electorate can now be
trusted with this power The voter,
who pays taxes on his small home and
has to save from his wages to do so,
quite as much as the businessman
with his automobile, adequate salary,
and accumulated earnings, can be
trusted to vote right where he can see
that his ballot controls his taxes
Many of my associates, do not agree
with me but this Is my mature judg-
ment. 1t is the American way at
least, and Hawaii is an integral part
CT the United States" u ...--
Reduce Elective Offices
Secondly: The municipal act, as it
now is with but few changes, can be
made over so as to concentrate re-
sponsibility and authority. Let US
build on our own experience rather
than copy others We khow our pres
ent system. Let us, change it where
necessary so that we voters shall
ballot only for the mayor, supervisors
and the auditor. Let all the other of.
ficers be appointed The appointing
power viii then be responsible for
them. Such is not now the case, and
the result is complained Of. - j. -.
If this plan is too simple and
more radical change is required, why
not give the city a government based
on the cabinet plan of the monarchy?
Those four men ran the whole king
dom. The native voter, who is in the
majority would understand the plan.
These four men and the mayor would
each have his executive functions and
as board they would legislate on ap-
preparations and ordinances. We tax.
PAYERS and voters would then know
Tho t. go after if things were not
eff ctert'y run. This is not now the
case. The feature of the recall could
he considered and in a way this would
he no new thing in Hawaii for under
the monarchy, the cabinet of the king /
could be dismissed by a vote of
want of confidence"
More Work for Officials
Third: II is reasonable to sup
| pose that more men of ability ant
constructive genius would come for
ward TO serve on the controlling board
/ of the city. If they could see there
chance to really do, something fol-
the CITY ~ ~
know that the legislatures o!
1911 and 1913 of which | was a men
| Der, did much in divorcing municipal
from. territorial functions, the idee
t the Oahu delegations being to give
the city authority the power to give
aluS ISoIuSHlSs VI tue sCEIy "udI resi-
! dents Of city demand. ...s
Power to raise money by taxation
without limit, should, now belong to
the city or Honolulu, as have al
ready urged, but another matter de
mands attention at once. The statut,
| laying down the procedure which
must De -oi:uwed in the exercise OF
the power of eminent domain should
be revised by the legislature of 1871.
so that the city itself can condemn
for public uses such private property
as may be needed for parks, play
grounds, buildings and new streets.
The city and county has never tried