The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-03-27
Suggestion That Kent Might Sc
cure His Reappointment Leads
..1 Members To Talk ".
OBSTRUCTION POLICY IS u
HARMFUL TO TERRITORY
Secretary Lane 10 Be Told Plain
Iy That Pinkham Is Not
the Man Wanted I..

In order that President Wilson and
the secretary Of the interior may be
authoritatively informed Of how Gov
ernor Pnikham stands in the opinion Of
the Territory, concerted movement is
taking shape in the Legislature to pass
a concurrent resolution Of no conf.
dence. Those who have the matter in
hand said yesterday they believed such
a resolution, judging from the vote
given the kindred resolution to safe:
guard the contingent fund, would com.
mand the support of practically every
Democrat I'm both chambers and of n
majority Of the Republicans.
News from Washington of late, to
the effect that disposition liugers
there to give the Governor second
term, due wholly to the influence Of
former Representative Kent, has made
1T virtually certain that Senator Shin.
gle's resolution, declaring for home
rule and proposing that the office Of
Governor be made elective, will pass
with ease. The same sentiment, it Is
argued, will line up behind a vote Of
no confidence in the Governor. As for
the house, its attitude is on record.
Record OF Obstruction
The groundwork on which the resolu.
ton will be built already has been lev.
eled and trued up. The bedrock under.
lying the whole structure is the fact
that Pinkham 3 entire administration
has shown him man of obstructive,
not constructive, temperament.
1t will be pointed out that he has
met almost every progressive move
ment put forward, with tactics of do
lay and opposition; that he has been
hostile to every plan for doing any
thing whatsoever that did not originate
with him or take shape in his hands
and, at the same time, that he has had
no alternatives to suggest.
As a case in point, the Governor i
critics instance the famous waikiki
reclamation plans, which first saw
print over Pinkham's signature NOR,
than ten years ago. Within the pres
ent administration four substitute
plans, which at least had the merit o.
being feasible, have been1smothered il
the Solid Ivory Chamber because the,
departed from the lines originally lait
down in the Governors obstinacy. Tn
case, say the the critics, is n perfec
| type. Pinkham rejected q the plans o
his department of public works beeaus
he had his own ideas on the subject
but if he had never heard of it befor
he would have rejected it, togethe
with all and any plans dealing with II
on general principles. Either way yo
take it, the result is the same.
The only result of consequence 1
Pinkham s administration, his oppC
nents will say, has been the upbuildin
of the national guard, and for tina
they give the major credit to Genera
Johnson. Moreover, the. quality @
this accomplishment is doubtful. Tn
Territory is in the position of a ma
who has acquired 'clouded title to
property of great value.
Outside of this island, the adde
strength of the guard is made u
largely of Filipinos, If these Filipino
are not eligible to become citizens the
are not eligible for the guard. Tw
decisions exist, one in favor of the FIJI
pinos and one against them, the first b
Judge Clemens, the latter by Judl
Vaughan, and both of equal validit
being both from the same court.
In such case a prudent and ia
sighted executive would have tried OF
he ground before taking any weight
'teps. If Governor Pinkham had speI
hat eleven thousand dollars from Il
contingent fund in taking an appeal
the United States circuit court, instea
IF launching his administration into
light against the Rapid Transit con
Dany, which competent lawyers kne
vas hopeless from the Outstart,
night, say his critics, have been
'ome purpose. ...
Public Works Middle ..g... . ...
. The muddle into which the Govern,
has allowed his department of publ
works to lapse is another episode of h
administration that will be brOugl
forward against him, Having on
been head of a hardware company, ii
Governor considers himself qualif,
engineer and, on engineering matte
wherein nothing has been done, like b
Waikiki reclamation, unhesitating
overrules all his own experts, b
where money is being freely spent,
on the waterfront and ut the territori
prison, he leaves all the loose ends
the hands of superintendent of pu
Tic works who has succeeded in emhro
ing himself with the board Of harb
commissioners, the public utilities co..
| mission, the engineering fraternit
! and who has earned the hardly d
ouised hostility of every departing
| head with whom he has had dealings
! Taking into consideration these OF
| standing facts of the present admin
| tratiQn, which one scarcely hears qu
| toned in the Capitol when officials
! legislators talk frankly among the
| selves, the forecast of vote of no &C
/ Hdanca saams nothinp rash