Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-03-17
THE HANDICAP OF THE SUPERVISORS

SUPERVISOR IoillHgle = llllie ldlh 10 Ills W.
leagues of the board last night. upon the oc
casion of his last appearance with them, con
tains much worth thinking over. He deplore'
the tendency on the part OF outsiders {,
KNOCK the board; he declared bis confidence
that the present membership is capable, anC
he gave a little paternal advice about stickin:
together and backing up department heads anc
committees.
One of his utteranees was:
Il knew now the responsibilities of an officer Of
this city and county and yoa viii not find me max.
ing any cheap cracks at the board on The street cor
ners The present condition OF the city and county
finances is not due TO the board OF Supervisors or
any Of them. II is on account Of the law which
will permit Honolulu 10 as il is trying TO.
We are being com PEELED to one of the most
gressiye cities Of its size in the world on the income
OF peanut stand do not know city of its size
the mainland Of the progTessyeness Of Honolulu that
not entitled to levy its taxes. SAP this that
the present knocker OF the board OF supervisors he he
Republican Democrat may know. that il is an in
Justice TO the board members and done without rue
knowledge Of the conditions under which this board
has TO work 80 "
Mr.. Single is probably as we'll informed Of
city and legislative affairs as any man in Ho
nolulu-better informed than nine ont of ten
II Is impossible to think that he does not know
why Honolulu has not the right to levy It's own
taxes,
Tie legislature has granted more and more
bowers to the city of Honolulu and the various
connties. Ii has always manifested willing
ness to add responsible functions where the
governments had shown themselves capable.
II has gone slowly in turning over the taxing
bower to Honolulu first because of uncertainty
As to whether the city should be given this au-
ihoiity on top of many other new functions;
slot
the present. tax Jaw indirectly gave the super
fisofs control over the tax rate through the
budget ma king power. In, practice city off.
Gals have not found this to be the case, but in
any event the.dispesitien ef-tle Legislatures has
been TO increase city powers as rapidly as the
fiiy has proved itself able to handle new obli-
eations If there has been hesitation in any
case, it has been because the legislature was
NOT entirely confident this young municipality
was doing clean-eut job of handling its own
nilairs
The present board Is record is not likely to
lreate such confidence 1t awoke after a year
81 office to the facts of heavy deficit, of APP
inspirations made if not legally at least with
Uncertain authority. 1t awoke to face proba-
BE deficit throughout the rest of its tenure Of
1Iiice. 1t awokeand is now seeking special
legislative relief.
When allsthe facts regarding city finances
re broughtout, it will probably be found that
he city as Mr.. Single puts it, is trying to run
rs the income of peanut stand. The present
..6d is NOT to blame for this What taxpay-
may justly charge up against the present
||1 Is its Failure to grasp the financial situa-
. until after IL had onerated for q year as If
income would be entirely sufficient What
ayers may justly charge up against the
10I board is the persistence with which it.
bored the repeated warnings of the city au-l
.I S reports furnished each member
here IS no disposition to blame Supervisor
.I|e He has served only short time on
board and his principal duties were with
road committee and not with municipal
.0ces That he worked very hard is a matter
knowledge and the public appreciates that.
NE experience of this board again raises the
..tion whether seven men busy primarily
|| their private affairs can handle city af-
f.. of the magnitude of Honolulu's 1t raises
r.. ouesfion whether our form of municipal
|1fnment is not quite as much to blame
more. than the individuals Of the board
Lid the board itself. The personnel of the
..rd IS Individually Woodworking and anxious
|. make Il good record, and there is, Just as Mr.
-|;nole remarks, scant chance that seven bet.
..r men would be chosen by the voters.
1Fbv Is Il that each board of supervisors is
,..nlaced after only two yearsi Why is it that
.-erx two wears there is an upheayal in city
..xefnmenfs Let the voters ask themselves