The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-22

Mr.. knuI=en's report. recommending the passage
Of the bill including horses and mules in personal
property 10 be faxed ad valorem. was next discussed
ia Committee Of the Whole. Mr.. Webster moved to
lay the bill on the table, On the round that the net
revenue derived during the past biennial period from
tax on horses aud mules had been S55, 900, and I'M
der existing circumstances, II would be unwise 10 de-
prIve the Treasury Of this amour: Of income and
further, he thought n special tax on the animals
would tend % diminish the number Of worthless hor-
ses which we're becoming n nuisance TO the country.
Mr. kuudsen argued firmly aud streuuously for the
passage Of the bill. lie thought all property should
be placed on the same basis for taxation purposes
tina; IL was unreasonable 10 impose on one man n
small tax for property Of a certain species, and treble
or quadruple the tax on another for n like amount Of
another species that there were those present who
would force the poor Hawaiians 20 kill OF sell their hcr-
ss where they were unable TO pay the tax, but these
same persons argued il very unjust TO force Ameri-
can slave owners 10 sell their slaves. Mr.. Wideman,
eon;ended that IL the special tax on horses and mules
was repealed, for the support Of the general govern
ment an equivalent must be sought by increasing
the tax on something else, which would amount TO
merely shifting the burden from one shoulder TO the
other. Show him n reasonable equivalent 10 the S27,-
900 per annum horse tax for the public treasury,
and he would favor with all his heart the proposed
measure Mr.. Rhodes was not in favor Of imposing
heavy taxes, but thought the existing tax on horses
no heavier than that imposed on many other things.
That in all countries certain species Of property were
subjected to special taxes, on the ground of their
being Injuries a horse was a luxury no man could
be called poor who owned n horse hence the pro-
posed bill could not be called a measure TO relieve
the poor as was argued by ONE Of the members.
Mr. Harris thought it folly for the House to play the
part OF children crying for the moon for the No.
bles. our rulers, would veto the bill and further, it
would be unreasonable in the face Of Sl5S, 900 debt
TO cut of 5000 Of the bienDial revenue. If this
bill passed, the next Legislature would find n def
cIent treasury, and then would blame the rulers for
not doing their duty, when they had deprived them Of
the means of doing it. Messrs. Baldwin and Kaauwai
also Supported the motion, to table the bill. Messrs.
Kaakua, Alapai, kOku and Kahananui arguing to the
contrary. After nearly four hours debate. the mo-
ton 10 table was lost, ii 10 10. The subject still
pending. the House adjourned.
FOURTEENTH DAY-MAY I6.
Mr.. Hitchcock. from the Committee on Agriculture,
sc reported on certain petitions praying that licenses
for distilleres be granted, that in the opinion of the
Committee, the time had not arrived at which such
licences could be n benefit either to the public reve-
nue., to the people at large, or to the sugar growers
and spectators; farther, that distilleries should be
licensed only as a last resort from national bark
ruptcy.
MIR. Webster agreed with the general tenor of the
report, but wished the last clause struck out, on the
ground that sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof"
MIR. Dowsett made exceptions to certain parts of
the report.
Mr.. Rhodes was opposed to it on the doctrine of ex-
pedieney and experience 4; he did not like the princi-
pie expressed in the report, and moved that 1t be re-
ferred to Ommitte of the House for future action.
Motion carried.
Mr.. Dowsett introduce? a resolution calling for the
Report of the Minister OF Interior, for the reason that
the time for presenting this Report, as prescribed by
the Constitution, had far passed, and much of the
important business of the House was awaiting it.
MIR. Harris assured the gentleman that the delay
had not taken place in the Interior Office, but
through pressure of business in the printing office.
Mr.. Dowsett, being assured that the Report would
be ready in a day or two, withire" the resolution.
a communication was received from the Minister
OF Finance, enclosing certain Custom House statis-
tics, and stating that. though he had not in his Re-
port recommended any material change in the exist
ing tariff. still if the Representatives saw fit TO adopt
n new tariff, with n scale of duties high on all arti-
Giles Of luxury consumed by the rich. and low on all
those which are necessary TO the comfort of the poor;
legaliZiDg at the same time, the importation, duty
free, of all implements and articles that can promote
agriculture, arts, and sciences. yet still producing a
revenue equal to that under the present system, he
should no, fail to ecommend it to His Majesty's favor,
and urge its support on his colleagues. Referred to
the Finance Committee.
The Speaker announced Messrs. Knudsen, Kaau-
wal. and Kamalo a Committee to confer with n SINH
lar Committed of the Mobiles on the BIZ relating 20
the Lahaina and Hilo Collectors, and
Messrs. Dowsett and Baldwin as the Commit a
enrolled bills.
Mr.. Kaakua read for the first time his bill allow
ing the Board Of Health to grant Hawaiian Physi-
clans licenses TO practice. Ii was ordered TO be trans
lated.
The Bill to include horses and mules in the per-
sonal property tax, was again taken up in Committee
Of the Whole.
Mr.. widemann moved to postpone indefinitely.
Ar. Knudsen opened the debate with ardOr. Our
constituents, said he, were crying for the repeal of the
horse tax; We were here, no; 10 present always our
own opinions aud prejudices. but the wishes of the
people; If a member could not ccnscientiously endorse
and advocate here these wishes, Il was n duty he
owed his constituents to resign his seat.
Mr.. Hitchcock replied. that if the members were
bound to fulfill the wishes of their constituents at all
every tax. and PASS many ridiculous laws; that mem
bers were bound by the wishes Of their constituents
only a. far as such wishes were in accordance with
reason and the best interests Of the nation.
Mr.. kaauwai thought the poll tax more oppressive
than the horse tax. The peop pie could easily rid
themselves Of the latter by diSposing Of their horses;
bit not so in regard to the poll tax. The records Of
our courts proved that beer drinking. adultery, and
rapid horse riding were the three great evils Of the
nation
MeSsrs. widemann. Rhodes and Dowsett supported
the motion to postpone indefinitely with tine general
arguments presented yesterday. The native members
generally arguing TO the contrary
After a three hours debate, Mr. Widemann's mo-
ton to postpone indefinitely, was carried-l4 to II.
But n subsequent motion to reconsider being carried,
the bill was brought before the House again; and the
subject still pending. the House adjourned.
FrFTmrEExTn DAY-MAY II.
Petitions were received from Honolulu. that the
number Of consjables for Honolulu be increased
that horses be taxed advalorem that the salaries of
the government officers be reduced that missionaries
be allowed to practice medicine , for certain changes
in the Honolulu market against legalizing distiller-
les; against granting the petition Of \. X Clark,
Eco Postmaster General. that he be released of re-
sponsibility for the money stolen from him, on the
ground that If his claim be allowed other government
officers would present like claims and that the law
allowing beef and vegetables TO be sold on Sunday,
be repealed.
Mr.. Eahananui real for the first time his Bill re-
ducing the pay Of tax Assessors TO 3 per cent. and Of
tax collectors TO 3 per cent. Referred to the Judici-
AIRY Committee.
Mr.. Kauuwai read for the first time a Bill trans
ferring the duties of the District Attorneys TO one
person. TO be called the Att~orney-General of the
Kingdom. Referred TO the Judiciary Committed.
Mr.. Knudsen presented the following resolution
a. RssOlred, That in the opinion of this House the law
bidding us to work six days in the week and TO rest
one day. is a sound and wholesome one. and that the