Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-31

roads is contained In report of the
Reads Committee OF the Civic Con-
yention which has been made TO the
legislature. The report contains q
draft Of the proposed bill. with plan
for financing the road construction
L. he counties which need better
highways. and sets forth at some
length the PRINCIPLES which must ba
recognized in order to secure good
roads.
The report to the legislature is the
result Of action first taken at the ses-
sion OF the Civic Convention in 1913
when the appointment OF 6 committee
was authorized for the purpose OF con-
sidering the subject OF how best to
secure construction and maintenance
OF good roads in the territory. The
committee named was rs follows:
Lorrin A Thurston, Hugh Howell, j..
II. Morange. r. w. Shingle and
Clarence f.. Cooke.
The bill as drafted by the committee
was presented to both houses of the
Legislature In 1915. 1t was favorably
reported by the COMMITTEE of the
house OF representatives and passed
first and second reading. but failed
of final passage due to the volume OF
legislative business. The same rea-
sons prevented its passage in the
senate where ii was also given a
favorable report by the committee to
which ii was referred.
At subsequent sessions OF the Civic
NoRa A
at the 1916 Civic Convention in Hilo
resolutions were. passed unanimously
approving the draft of the bill and di-
recting the convention committee to
present II to the 1917 legislature.
Hearing Held on Sill Wednesday
The bill is now under consideration
in the senate, where it has been intro
duced as S. b. "a. and on Wednesday
afternoon a public hearing was held
with the senate sitting as committee
CT the whole, Senator A. L. Castle
presiding Considefal,se objection
vas voiced to the bin, principally be-
cause some did not believe it was suit
ed to the islands and because it places
restrictions upon the county supervi-
sars present plans Some stress was
placed upon the fact that conditions
ere different here from that on the
mainland. where state highway acts
are in effect and that the counties Of
the territory are not contiguous.
The objections were voiced after l..
A. Thursten had explained its prinei-
pies in detail during which he stated
that the main purpose was 70 secure
the building of roads which were ter
ritorial in value, separate from those
built by the counties which were of
purely local character.
Among those who questioned the
wisdom CT the bill becoming law were
Mayor John c. Lane, Deputy County
Attorney William 7. Garden, Supervi-
sor Dan Logan and Senator J. H. Co
ney. Senator Robert Single and Sen
ator Stephen Desha made Inquiries
to determine the breadth OF the pro-
posed law
FOUR PRINCIPLES
SET FORTH
The Civic Convention Committee
presents four principles which 1t states
lie at the foundation of securing and
maintaining good roads in Hawaii
They are as follows:
First Principle. The section up
keep, or cantonier system, must be
adopted to secure and maintain good
roads.
Second Principle. The territory as
a whole through the territorial gov
eminent, should bear the whole cost
of roads which are substantially OF
equal interest and benefit to the com
munity as whole.
Third Principle. The territory
should join with the county govern
ments in the cost of roads which are
of joint interest and benefit to the
people as whole, and to the local
community, and which by reason OF
high cost can not be built, or will
not be built for the present with
local funds
Fourth Principle. Territorial con.
troll of expenditures for construction
and maintenance OF roads should &C.
company territorial participation in
cost
In the report of Civic Convention
committee to the legislature 1t is stat
ed that the draft of law submitted is
the same as that submitted to the
legislature in 1915 1t is believed by
the committee that it viii to great
extent remedy present unsatisfactory
conditions
In statement to the legislature the
Civic Committee says in part:
II embodies no new or untried prin-.
cipies; but is based on a form or
model law" drafted by the National
Good Roads Association and the Mas.
sachnsetts State-aid -to-roads Law. with
to fit local conditions
II is analyzed in the report Of the
committee to the Legislature Of 1915.
which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.
and to which reference is hereby made
The committee submits the said draft
for your consideration IN the firm be.
lief thar il enacted into law it will be
Of material assistance in securing and
good roads in Hawaii
ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED LAW
To facilitate an understanding of the
draft of law submitted, the committee
submits the following summary of the
leading features contained therein, as
fellows:
I. Basis of the Act. The basis of
draft of law submitted is a model
bill" formulated by the American