The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-05-19
Former Governor Frear Is Elect
ed Chairman Of Committee .
From Civic Organizations
PRESIDING OFFICER
OUTLINES POLICIES
Tells Conferees That In Framing
Constitution For City Legis-
Iature Must Be Considered

The City Charter Committee has or
ganizod and christened itself. This
took place yesterday at the meeting
held by the delegates in the chamber
Of commerce rooms, where a quorum
came together after two previous at
tempts. ~"
In organizing, J. NJ. McChesney, rep
resenting the Civic Federation, read
the resolution of that body calling on
the like organizations of the city to get
together by representatives and draft a
new charter in place of the one agreed
upon by the recent charter convention,
which was declared by the resolution TO
be anything but acceptable to the mem
bers of the Civic Federation. The reso-
luton further declared that the commit.
tee selected to draft a new charter
should 'prOvide for a short ballot, with
q city manager, subject to appointment
and removal at will by the supervis-
ors. - saE}
Clause Creates Discussion An
| This last clause caused some serious
discussion among those present, as uh-
til II was read the other members Of
the committee had no idea that they
we're to be limited in their work by any
such provision, and it was the UNDER
standing that they would not be so linz
tied. ..- RtSgF
The permanent organization was then
arranged for and Former Governor
| Walter F. Frear was elected chairman,
with Professor j. NJ. Young secretary
of the committee. There were no con.
tests for the offices, both men being
elected by reclamation.
Chairman Frear, on taking his seat,
| said that in the furtherance of the
| work in hand it would be best to decide
\ on what should be attempted in the
drafting of the charter, and that there
were many matters for consideration
before the work could be really started
The form of the charter was one Of
the frst Considerations and then the
matters to be contained in it. The sub.
ject of taxation, city manager or com.
mission form, manner of holding elec.
tions, whether preferential of proper
tional voting should be recommended
were some of the things to be given
confederation. 1t was possible that the
present city charter, by being changed
1
ferable to an entire new charter which
might not be a polite move.
Legislature To Be Considered
The probable action of the legisla
ture might be taken into consideration
in the drafting of the charter, as legis
latures sometimes did what they were
not expected to do. 1t was possible
that a charter little better than the
present one might 60 through with q
rush, while an ideal charter would meet
with hard sleding. The chances OF
getting the charter through was mat
ter for grave consideration.
The legislature was then considered
and il seemed to be the sense of the
meeting that the citizens of the city
were the ones really to decide on thu
charter, and that the legislature shoulC
be asked to empower the voters to dc
eide for themselves what form Of char
ter was the best.
In some States, it was said, it wa
the practise to have charters approved
by the legislatures in different forms
which cities were permitted to adopt
In this way, in States where Their
were many municipalities. uniform
charters were the rule, and people al
over the State became familiar will
their terms. The citizens of the cite
we're permitted to select their owl
charters from those approved by tn
legislature, a charter for city of fit,
thousand people being different from
one for a place of half million.
Those present at the meeting wer
w. +. Frear, J. M. MeChesney, Ed
Towse and J. M. Young. william
Thompson and L. N. Judd were absent
the former being in the Island of Ha
wall and the latter on the Coast, wher
it is thought he will remain for som
time. If he does IL was deemed to tn
best advantage of the other member
of the committee to have another ma
appointed in Mr.. Judd's place to assis
in the deliberations. -.
Chairman Frear was requested TO dra {
a summary of his remarks on the mar
ner of getting to work, and will do so an
have copies of the proceedings of tn
meeting in the hands of the other men
bers before the next session, which wi
take place on Thursday, June %.
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