Honolulu Star Bulletin

NEW CHARTER MAY
CAUSE BIG TANGLE
AS TO ELECTIONS
Provides for Holdover Term But Primary Call Comes Before Legislature

The attention of the Star-Bulletin was called today to the possibility of a conflict over sections of the proposed amended charter for Honolulu and the present election laws.
The sections in question call for a fall election and a six months' hold over of the present office holders and with the call for the primary election going out February 6 before the legislature convenes on February 21, a problem confronts the law makers and possible candidates which is likely to cause considerable trouble before it is finally settled. There is also the fact that the charter may not be voted upon until after the primary election, April 7, in which case if it were passed it would leave the primary winners up in the air.
The question arises, therefore, as to whether action of the legislature would nullify the call for the primary election or whether election machinery would continue to grind on and an election be held at the usual time, the newly elected officers to assume office January 1, 1918, following the six months hold-over, or again whether the election would be postponed till the date set by the proposed new charter.
With these problems before them the legal lights of Honolulu are likely to be caused a number of sleepless nights before a decision is reached.
A. M. Cristy, deputy city attorney, said today that offhand he thought the action of the legislature would nullify the primary action but before he could answer authoritatively it would require considerable study. He suggested that the legislature pass some legislation when it convenes to cover this angle.