Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-22

td1n0L 6e ACCONpISleu, G0mInIee SUGGESTS Sill
Amendments to Present Form
STANDING r..ssen.r city proposed BY majority
bin ,. I..5saue:s ne y.:.:,d the
q nsaeuu eon.eIsssa ys.ses.s. s....
csmns cius, as,y r.so signed by
M s c john 1suna .rs 4 ns i,
The report sbo how machine politicians secured eono Of
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Points the sctons features fsthered
The sspsst,n follows
To tie Chamber of Commerce Cislc Federation
Commercial Cub I'D Ciub and Rotary Ciub:
Your joint committee appointed consider the question
of ap0posed charter for the City and County Of Homo
lulu report follows:
PAST LEGISLATION
Local government comparatively in Hawaii but has
had somewhat rapid development Three comprehensive
government have been enacted
The first enacted by the Legislature of 1908 1t pro-
vded for counties exclusive of the Leper Settlement
begin in january 1904 was held invalid by the Supreme
Court Of the Teyroy Act 81. Laws of 1908, Territory
Oahu County Supervisors Is Iiaw 565 Dole Cooper IS
law 27).
The second known as the County Act was enacted by the
Legislature Of 1905 provided for four counties exclusive
Of the Leper Settlement to begin july 1905 Act 49, Laws
Of l9O5l.
The third known the Municipal Act enacted BY
the Legislature Of 1907 converted the County Of Oahu
the City and County Of Honolulu begin in January
1909. fActsl18 Laws of 1907
succeeding Legislature has amended these County and
Municipal Acts respectively in many details and has consid
erab extended the and functions OF these local
RESULTS
The Counties Of Kauai and Maui from the beginning and
the County of Hawaii since its houeceanng 1913 appear
have operated with fair degree Of satisfaction under their
comparatively simple conditions and there has been little need
or demand for their reorganization
In the City and County of Honolulu, however much
because Of specific shortcomings the part of particular off
Gals because Of general failure Of the system ade
quatey the growing needs Of the Territorial metropolis with
its important business large and dense population
its military and requirements tourists and
other conditions much because the government Of
the City and County has functoned about well it
could under its clogs limitations because
greatly numbered and feered conviction has been growing
for several years past pronounced change changes
should be made its socaned charter with the object if
possible Of eeing results approximately commensurate with
MOVEMENT FOR A NEW CHARTER
In 1911 the then Governor his message to the Legis
aure RECOMMENDED number Of important changes both
the County Act and the Municipal Act
Early in 1872 lengthy report the administrative
ganzton Of the City and County Of Honolulu prepared by
Mr.. Gooding Field presented the Chamber of Com
and Published pamphlet form In that report defects
in the existing charter and in its practical operation
pointed and suggestions made for revision of it
with view to undermining and energzng the public ma
chine.
Later the year. Mems League of Central Union
Church took the matter and of its meetings the then
Governor delivered lengthy address the subject The
address was later published in pamphlet form In that adj
successful charters elsewhere the
features that charter for the City and County of Homo
lulu should contain and the principles reasons which
those features were based
Shortly afterwards at the invitation of the then Governor
series Of meetings held this subject by body
sstng mainly of three Representatives each from about
dozen business and other organizations The
problems involved discussed length and proposed
charter evolved outline much but all of which
worked in detail by Judge W. l. Whitney who was
member Of the conference
In the oceed foSflr7f ffe cof
the City and County the questions whether they favored the
existing charter nnamended favored amending it.
<or<1 c1aer and the latter whether they favored