Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-23

William Aylett, garbage superin-
! tendent. was the first opposition
! speaker to get TO the floor. He out
lined briefly the work Of the charter
convention. He said, in part:
| Il wish to say that the charter ap-
proved by this convention should be
! supported by the members OF the
house OF representatives. II is their
duty as representatives to support it
so that it may pass and be OF benefit
both to the rich and to the poor, We
voted for you because, in the cam
paign, you declared yourselves in ia
yor OF this charter We may be the
poor people, but We have the right to
vote. | hear that there is moFe on
foot to take away certain powers OF
the mayor This is nothing more than
political machinery at work. In the
years past we have had government
by the people. and We want this per-
petuated so that no certain class of
people can step in here and control
the government"
Foresees War Here
Jesse Uluihi, editor Of Link Nc.
| Candless newspaper, made a state
ment to the effect that If the govern
ment is taken away from the people
there will be something. here as bad
as the war in Europe" He wanted to
know why the Committee of 100 Of the
chamber did not come forward with
its amendments as soon as the charter
was passed by the convention
| The first speaker in support OF the
chamber amendments was W. c. Achi,
who spoke at length in Hawaiian. He
| declared he understood the convention
| charter is not properly before the leg
| islature as it had not been presented
by the governor.
Senator Correa interrupted with the
assertion that 1t was not the duty of
the governor to present the charter.
Achi went on to say that in the
convention the charter bill now under
consideration was adopted by q out
of 81 members.
Does that prove that it was the
voice of the people?' he demanded.
"voice Of the People" -.
Representative Lorrin Andrews, ia
ther of the charter bill, jumped to
his feet and declared the records
would show that AZ delegates to the
convention and not 81 voted to APP
prove. the charter. The senator
should not have made that statement"
he asserted, referring to Achi. .--
Achi waxed warm in his argument.
He chung to the point that the charter
had not been passed by majority.
A Hawaiian in the audience got up
and s11roicod nninf nf laUY ,"
Achi raised point Of order.
The Hawaiian said Achi should pre-
sent his objections to the charter in
bill Of exceptions in the supreme
court, and not at the meeting.
The crowd grew restless. .... 4
we are the people. sit down."
someone yelled. r.
Chairman Wilder raped loudly for
order.
"This is not political meeting" he
softly cautioned the audience
One of the crowd demanded to know
II the charter now in the house was
the one adopted by the convention.
Representative Andrews said 1t was.
Achi continued: 1853
"The Chamber of Commerce amend
ments provide for few elective Of
ficials so that the bulk of the work
may be spread among the working
people. It is desired to eliminate
certain elective officers so that the
money may be more evenly spread
among the working people The cham
Der is here to point out that since
the establishment Of city government
the expenditures under that govern
ment have been considerable. 1t is
being run at enormous cost to the
DeoDle. II Is the object OF the cham
ber's amendments to decrease these
expenditures by diminishing the num-
Der Of elective officers Work will be
/ plentiful II the amendments of the
chamber are agreed to. 1t is now
high time that we copied the form or
government of many of the cities on
the mainland. Now is the time to see
that everyone is provided with work.
What we all want is better form OF
governments and we can get it If we
adoDt the chambers amendments"
Cohen Airs His Views
J. c. Cohen, candidate for mayor,
said he was appearing for the steve
dores and that they did not approve
of the short ballot system. -..s
I'VE want the charter as it now
stands" he said. I'VE want the sup.
erintendent Of city works appointed,
as he comes directly under the mayor
and the supervisors AS far as chief
of police is concerned. we don't want
t. We're Kanalua' on that point"
He also claimed the short-ballot
charter wouldn't do in progressive Ho-
nolulu. ...... ..... .s.s.. !. ..<.as
At this point Hawaiian got to the
floor and argued in favor of letting
the people vote on the charter ques-
ton. Then this committee can find
out what type of city charter Is want
ed" he concluded. 49,. =@.:
A six-foot Hawaiian stevedore was