The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-03-01

To Look At the difficulties in the way Of Trans
ferring property u giving security upon 1t. would
appAr - If the policy # the government was to
discourage sales OF mortgage. A mortgage
must b stamped. one dollar Acknowledgements
u 5he m.r,--ger and wife, each 8 dollar the
recording wiIl " at cur high rates. about three
dylIar- and When the unfortunate mortgage l.
reldy 70 discharge X, he finds that there Is 10
pay another dollar for stamp, and Two more for
Acknowledgements f mortgage and wife, and d
d-lla- fC- recording release Here Isl tax Of ten
dollars . = u-t3 u government in the shape Of
stamps aui fez. u lie amount Of the tranac-
tt5u ;ae smallest If II kiud-and the natives Of
,hi= kingdom are compelled u give mortgage
security for small sums. l. may be only ten
dollars. but this Is . be added . interest. per
h4Is high. and probably q charge foFdrawing up
the instrument. What tae>e may be ! q matter
yf private arrangement. We instance i a. show
Ing how frequent and heavy are The fes neces-
sary - b paid into the ezchequer.
Stamps b=~e- the entrance . the Custom House.
Naaite>rs. entries. permits and other exhibits
must hare received this magical impression.
You can hardly ask the Collector q question. Or
even 4ceJst him in his Office without being r.
euir=i y pay q fee. All licenses. powers Of al
tJrney, letters test4mentary. and Of ldminisrra-
ton, al Petitions y Supreme OF any Circuit
Court. and all process issuing therefrom, must BE-
STAMPED. Merchandise arriving here from abroad
Is, after being duly entered on stamps. taxed first
in duties. The merchant, in his taxed store,
pays, secondly, . license 70 government for per-
mission - sell his goods in il. Again, they are
taxed with his personal property, according to
his return. or the assessors valuation upon best
information,' Lastly, after paying all these de-
mands on goods. which he finds it impossible u
sell, he sends them 70 the auction room, where
the government takes q final one per cent. more
than 1t formerly ~ezacted. which latter i simplya
tax for giving % the aucrioneer his license. Thess
are vexatious and impolirc modes Of taxation.
Men would rather pay one heavy tax. than be %
often met BIZ these demands for the dollar.
Allusion has been made in the official CORES
pgndence which has lately appeared ON the tax
troubles. u the views of General Miller. That
gentleman's political views were generally sound,
and his long experience in the political relations
Of this kingdom, rendered them worthy Of at least
thoughtful consideration. He held that this
government ought 70 make Honolulu a free port
for merchandise. that it might beconea great de-
pot for the nations surrounding it. But the
my ~ LAF ~ H. - liz '-A- AN'-'--" -
Is bent on shutting out every cargo Of goods it
1t has doubled is duties on merchandise;
and doubled It's charges on transit goods. 1t i
the Development Of q policy a. suicidal 20 the true
prosperity Of the kingdom as any that could have
been originated, and one which though it may
result in a temporary increase Of revenue, will
terminate in depressing every branch of trade and
industry. In short, it Is u serious question,
whether it would not be better for the prosperity
Of the kingdom if the fiscal changes made in the
Civil Code We're repealed.
But We Will perhaps be answered, that revenue
must be had from something. That Is true, but
it is not policy 10 attempt too much, or it will
only result in killing the hen that lays the
golden egg" Over taxation. where we are un-
able 10 bear it, will only weaken u as a nation.
Better 70 practice economy in every department.
cormorants who sit looking towards the
golden vaults of the Government Treasury, are
only planning how best they can manage TO get
their salaries increased. And doubtless, ye shall
hear them crying out for an increase, Is they did
year. like those Of old, - Give, give" Re
-renchment should be the order OF the Gay.
Stop the leaks where thousands Of dollars are
wasted lover and above necessary and Legitimate
ray,) and there will be enough in the Treasury.
The legislature have an important task 10 look
these leaks, and make a retrcnchment and
equalization Of salaries in the various branches
# government. To pay a hardworking man a
salary, on which he can barely support
ais family, and allow another, less competent
1erson. to receive Il SUN. out Of which he can lay
" az interest twenty TO fifty per cent. Is not
honest, just or polite. 1t i not polite that the
government should pay $4,000 every two years
or printing, that need not cost 10000. nor sup
an Office to do the job printing of the town.
IetrenchInent can also be effected in the Judiciary
Department, by cutting off many useless judge
hips. and other expenses Of the Courts. Let the
be put 10 the wheel. and the work of
economy be begun and faithfully carried out.