The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-02-18

MelnpeTS VI Jne legislature, the
board of supervisors and the legisla-
tive committee of the Chamber OF
commerce met together on Friday
afternoon for the purpose of discuss
ing legislation desired by Maui at the
regular session of the legislature
which opened on Wednesday of this
week. In spite of the fact that less
than "a hours had elapsed from the
time of decision to hold such a meet
ing two senators and three represen-
tatives were present.
The board took a recess for the
purpose of joining in the proposed
meeting and Chairman Sam Kalama
OF the board was elected chairman of
the meeting. e. r. Bevins, as county
attorney and as chairman of the legis-
latlVe committee Of the Chamber of
Commerce presented a list of legisla-
ton he knew to be desired and the
reasons for such legislation and full
ana free discussion followed.
Other county officials, Superintendent
of Public Instruction MacCaughey and
interested private citizens joined in
the discussion on some OF the sub
iects.
Enlarged County Powers
First to be considered was the mat
ter of giving the board of supervisors
more authority for appropriating for
court and other expenses. Mr.. Bev-
lns said that the present idea of hav-
ing to go to the legislature for au.
thorlty was a relic of the time when
the Territory bore the expenses of the
courts and received the fines. Since
the county now bore the eHpenss il
was only fitting it should say what
such sXpense should be. He also cited
the occasion of last year when there
We're insufficient funds on hand for
holding a jury session. There are
other provisions of the law where au-
thority is in the legislature where il
IS believed there should be power in
the county and these will be covered
in the proposed amendments.
Representative Paschoal said he be-
lieved there would be found objection
from other counties and j. II. Gray
proposed that if such an objection
should be found insurmountable there
be an alternate bill presented to in
crease the allowance for court ex-
penses for the juvenile court from
S6OO to $4,000 a year. He said he did
this to cover the situation told the
Chamber of Commerce by +. B. Came
ron at its meeting last Thursday when
the latter told of it having been
necessary to seek public contributions
to send two dependents to an institu-
tion in Honolulu.
Mr.. Cameron said he did not be |
lieve the county would use the fund |
II given the authority and spoke of |
two past experiences. The county at |
torney explained it was the very law |
that is sought to be amended to give |
more authority that had prevented |
favorable action on Mr.. Camerons |
proposals in the past Senator Rice |
suggested that the law might be so |
framed as to give the authority to |
Maui County and Gray withdrew his |
motion.
County Construction Proposed /
Relative to giving the county power
to do work when bids presented were !
deemed exorbitant Mr.. Bevins said |
that recently when bids for a number
Df school buildings were called for at |
the same time bids We're from two
10 three times the estimate of the |
county engineer and the reason given
by contractors was that there was not
SO much work at one time. He told
of the law giving authority to the
county TO do road and bridge work .
when bids were considered too high /.
and OF the saving thus effected in sew
eral instances.
Senator Tavares on this subject and !
the first subject considered said in !
the past the sentiment had been to |
curtail county authority and vest it |
In the legislature but that if sentiment !
was changed now he was for the |
measure. Senator Rice favored it. |
This measure may also be so drawn |
so as to apply only to Maui County |
AS to the eminent domain law it |
appears that an amendment in 1919 |
requires publication in a daily paper |
within the county and there are no
dailies on Kauai or Maui
Transporting School Children
Provision for the transportation OF
children living at a distance from a
school OF the grade they should at