Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-01-18

LEGISLATORS IN
CAUCUS DECIDE ON
CHARTER CHANGES
Senators and Representatives
Meet, Alter Plans in Seven
important Respects

Discussion of the city charter pro-
posed by the charter convention and
adopted on November IL, 1915, was
held last night by a general caucus Of
Oahu representatives and senators, re-
suIting in suggestions for hail a dozen
lvital changes in the draft of that date.
The caucus was in the Commercial
fGlub.
Democrats and Republicans were
there alike-all differences Of party
being forgotten in the effort to ar.
TiSGsat a decision for united action in
the legislature, which is scheduled to
convene next month Practically all
of the delegation was present. Among
the tentative suggestions made were
the following:
Supervisors BY Districts
y. That the city supervisors be
elected from districts of Honolulu
three from the 4th and three from the
5th. 4The proposed charter provides
only six supervisors, all elected at
large.
Holdover Members
2. That the hold-over system for
supervisors in office be adopted, half
to remain two years after the other
half has passed out, making a four
year term for each group after the
system is in running order.
More County Money
3. That the territory keep the col
lection Of taxes, not the county. as
proposed in the charter draft; larger
amounts of tax money to be given to
the counties than heretofore.
4. That an officer Of the county
should not hold an office in the ter
ritory.
5. Bonds should be provided, in
every case by surety companies, not
by personal bondsmen.
superintendent Of City Works
6. The office or superintendent of
city works should be elective as pro-
vided In the proposed charter. with
the additional qualifieation that he be
a man of known executive ability and
should file $4,000 as q bond upon
nomination. q s.
Z. The salary Of city attorney
should remain at $4,000 as now and
not be reduced to $4,000 as provided
by the proposed charter.
Last nights caucus was the most
important yet held by the Oahu legis.
lators, according to opinions express
ed today by members who were pre-.
sent and took part in the discussions.
The vote to work on the proposed
charter came early in the meeting
and from that time on this theme
formed the subject of debate
c. H. Cooke, representative from
the 4th district, made the suggestion
that supervisors should be elected ac-
Cording to districts, and it was he who
made the suggestions regarding taxa
ton which precipitated warm discus.
sion. Cooke was named as chairman
Of the taxation committee, which will
report at the next meeting.
Senator A. L. Castle insisted upon
the amendment which would prevent
county officer from holding office
in the territory. The double office of
Deputy City Attorney W. T. Garden,
who is also a public utilities commits
sioner, was cited as a specific exam
pie of the present case.
Senator r. w. Shingle, formerly a
city supervisor, moved for the vote
which would retain one-half Of the
supervisors in office after the other
half had finished term.
The question OF recall brought up
hot discussion and was probably the
longest argued Of any proposals. Op-
ponents to the recall system as draft
ed by the charter convention argued
against the system of letting petition
ers amounting to 80 per cent of an
officers vote bring about lis recall.
AS the next meeting, which will be
held Wednesday night, the duties of
city offices as provided for IN the
proposed charter will be considered