The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-09

I respecting the taking of Acknowledgements. Bill
I passed first reading.
On motion of Hon. Mr.. Hitchcock. House resolved
itself into a Committee of the Whole, and the bill re-
duc:ng the horse tax made the special order of the
day, Hon. Mr.. Nahaku in the chair.
Mr.. Lyons moved the passage of the first section.
His. tx. 5. II. Phillips thought the question ought
To be well considered before taking a vote, rs the in
come of the Government for the past two years from
this tax Was sci Hog, and it was estimated that the
next two years revenue would be SG0,0O0 aud if
this passed, S3O,OOO would De taken from the cur
rent revenue.
Hon. Z. H.. Boyd moved to amend the bill, 50 that
all horses should be taxed fifty cents, and not those
only that were over two years old, AS mentioned in
the Bill.
Hon. ID. Kalakaua moved to indefinitely postpone
the bill, as the supporters of 1t favor it merely for
popularity in their several districts.
Hon. g. Rhodes thought that the bill was being
considered nj the wrong time. He thought the As
sembly could consider this bill better after they had
gotten over part of the Appropriation Bill, and could
see the requirements of the Government. He be-
lievei III reducing the taxes of the poorer classes (poll
or school taxi, but not the horse tax. He was not in
favor of reducing any taxes just now, as the Appro-
priation Bill had not been considered.
Hon. 5. G. Wilder said, 1 fully concur with the
member from Honolulu (Rhodes.) | do not wish that
the Ministry should be placed in n piiikia by having
money to pay by appropriation, and afterwards the
tax receipts reduced. Therefore L say, now is the
time 10 consider this matter, and If any revenue is
lost, you can then appropriate according TO the money
in your purse. The amendment offered by the MEM
Oti oii tbtsul ahuuic my u u ~
expected by the reduction proposed. A native hav-
ing one horse and a colt now pays 81. If this bill
pass as amended, making it 80 cents on all horses, he
would still pay 81. | do most heartily support the
amendment TO tax all horses, old or young, and |
claim that the receipts from the horse tax, taxing all
horses 80 cents, would exceed the present revenue
from said tax. But no benefit accrues to the poor
man. My desire is that the native should have some
reduction in his taxes. / therefore offer my amend
ment every man, paying n poll tax, shall have one
horse free. This mode brings the taxes Of horses upon
I d man ~ ann prhA r.asas h.rSn- 30 nl aa1 -
he makes his money by such a business, should pay
for 50 doing. l DO not think there is a person in this
House who will not acknowledge that the poor man
of Hawaii mel is taxed disproportionally with the rich
man. L challenge any one present to name n country
which taxes its citizens 50 heavily as the people of this
group arc taxed. What government assesses every
man, rich and poor, five dollars each! The taxes are
not only assessed but collected. 1t may he asked how
the tax can be collected from n man having no in
come. MIR. Chairman, he works il out in the chain
gang; tax five dollars; costs two dollars; total seven
dollars, cancelled by twcnty-eight days work ut
twenty-five cents a day. Without being personal.
and asking the gentlenen's pardon if 1 am so, / ask
you to take the case of the Crown Ministers, who are
paid n salary OF So,oOO n year, who pay a like tax of
only 90 u year, the same as collected from the native
servant who blacks his boots and receives SO a week
for the service. The tax is unequal, unfair and un-
just, when compared with the amount paid by the
capitalist. Mr.. Chairman, 1 came here pledged in
my own mind TO try and reduce the personal tax of
the poor man, and had / the power, L should prefer
to reduce it in some other way than the one now pro-
loS~a > "a 80 = NAthoN t.hhy Oah MY OiAEthhA Hktus
| am compelled to urge the passage of this bill.
Although my amendment gives one horse free of duty
to each native, you will notice that | support the tax
upon all horses, mares and colts without regard to
age. assert that under the present law, not ono
half the horses in the land are taxed ; that the major
ity of horses under two years of age are owned in
large focks by foreigners, men of property, men able
to pay, myself among the number. Consequently
claim that l can conscientiously ask what L do for the
benefit Of the people. | ask you to heed the voice of
the masses who session after session send petitions to
f1A amH that THAR Tn v a may ha paIn.aAf RAtnn fhn 1
horse tax. 1t is the prayer of the people. | believe
that the news of the reduction of the horse tax would
be received by the people with more rejoicing and
heartfelt pleasure than would a reduction of personal
taxes to a larger amount. Some may claim that the
horse tax RENTED will lead to an increase of horses.
| differ, knowing that the agricultural interests will
settle the matter, Seven years ago the member by
my side and myself drove in from my present planta-
ton five hundred horses which had no right on the
land. To-day the land is fenced, planted in cane,
and no horses trespass. l claim that it will be SO
elsewhere. Lands suitable for agricultural purposes
will cease to be pasture for horses. The Minister of
Finance will doubtless ask, how are We to make up
the deficiency in the revenue? / can say, reduce your
expenses i'll proportion to the reduction in the reye-
nue..
Hon. Asa Hopu and Halemanu favored the reduc-
ton of the horse tax.
Hon. j. Upa also favored the bill, and if the Gov
eminent were afraid of a deficiency in the revenue,
let them stop the subsidy of $50, 900 for ocean steam
ers, reduce the salaries of the Ministers, strike out
the $4,000 for a Minister Resident at Washington
TOHl ~ appropriation Dill, as u iiilSlt
do nothing there but eat up the money of the Hawai-
ian people, and not to pay our representative at WASH
ingtOn any more money, as lie is doing no good
Assembly adjourned.
SEVENTEENTH DAY, May 4.
Assembly met at usual hour, President Kekuanaoa
in the chair.
Committee on Judiciary presented the minority re-
port relative TO the member of Eva and Waianae, and
reported that they were not as fully acquainted with
the case rs they wished to be, and therefore recon-
menleJ the same IN the consideration of tho HouSa in
Committee of the Whole.
Majority report on anne affair was in favor of the
member retaining his seat in the House.
uni on Finance reported n new bill TO make
permanent settlement OH Queen Kalama
Select committee to whom was referred the bill pro-
hibiting bathing in certain portions of the stream
called Nuuanu, reported unfavOrabiy, and recon-
mended the same to be tabled. Report adopted
Their Excelencies C. de Varigny and S. ii Phillips
reported ON the printing expenses of their separate
Departments Foreign Affairs, total 81 400 80
Finance Department, including the Custom House,
75
Hon. C. II Judd read for the first time an Act
Sections 599 and 69l of Civil Code, and
passed to its second reading
Hon. f Jones gave notice of n bill authorizing the
Minister of the Interior to appoint a commissioner to
record deeds of sale, &c, for the town of Lahaina.
Hon. j. w Keawehunahala read for the first time
4 bill regarding the qualifications of electors.
Hon. Mr.. kuihelani presented the bill amending
Chapter Z, Article 2, of the Civil Code. Same passed
the first reading according 10 rule. s
Hon W.. T.. Martin introduced u resolution that the
of 500 he appropriated for the building of a
landing at the harbor of Kaalualu. Same de-
till the consideration of the Appropriation Bill 4,
Hon. Mr.. koakanu introduced a resolution that the
member of Lahaina (E- Jones) be requested To pre-
'ent his credentials to the House. Resolution adopted. =,
His tx. F.. w. Hutchinson gave notice of a bill
amending Sections lis, 119, 10 and III of Civil {
code, relating to stations. l
On motion, House proceeded to the order of the day. =
An Act amending Section 999 of the Civil Code was I
by its title and passed third reading !
An Act 20 orpan1 lIa.tn. ~ 49, % ~ Dap,I 4 ,
ode relative to vagrants and disorderly persons, read Z