The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-07-10

hN' UCA biCAAtiDA&CAs abANu appears 10 DC hu Ell
gIish publication for the reason that any reIia-
bic information on the subject treated cannot fail
to be Of especial value to us.
A STATESMAN once remarked $40 the Govern
ment, honestly and economically administered in
nil its departments, and kept within its legiti-
mate sphere and purpose, every citizen owes, for
the benefits conferred on him, his just proportion,
according to his means, of the cost of its mainte-
nance, which if be with holds, he does a wrong to
all other members of the government, inasmuch
az he withholds that which is Justly due from
him and if by trick or fraud he avoids its pay
ment, he commits a crime"
We make this quotation because we believe it
to be pertinent and seasonable at this time, when
the list OF assessors of taxes for the year have
been published by authority. Having had the
perusal Of the printed instructions to the asses
sors, and Of the blanks which taxpayers are
requested to fill and return, we feel warranted in
saying that the government is making every pos
sible effort to obtain a Just and thorough assess
ment of property.
The matter of direct taxation is one that has
occupied the minds of statesmen of all nationali-
ties but perhaps more particularly for a few
years past those of the United States. We see
by late California papers that the subject is there
quite fully and strongly discussed just now. 4
feature of their assessment-which would pro-
badly disturb some of our tax-payers-is the
publication of the returns of personal property,
in order that every person may know how far his
neighbor helps to sustain the government. By a
recent San Francisco paper we see that the assessor
examines the books of merchants, bankers, and
insurance companies, in order to obtain a knowl-
edge of property liable to taxation, and by this
course the amount of assessment has been raised
so much over that of former years, that it is
thought the rate of taxation can be lowered fully
fifty cents on the hundred dollars-the full amount
Of our tax.
There is n complaint thereto our mind not
unreasonable-that no deduction is allowed for
membranes upon real estate, so that mortgages
are doubly taxed. The assessor enters the mel
chants or bankers establishment with a trans
cript of all mortgages of record, and is able to
detect and correct errors IN the returns made. In
this kingdom mortgages on property, if held in
the country, can be deducted all that the asses
sor requires is the name of the mortgage and the
amount.
If the blanks now being placed in lie hands Of
taxpayers require a more detailed account of pro-
perty than has heretofore been demanded, no
blame can attach to the government, and GER
tainly no person who desires to bear his proper
ton of the expense of carrying on a government.
more particularly where the rate per cent. is so
small-can or will complain. 1t is only the in
dividual who wants all the advantages of q stable
government without cost to himself who viii at
tempt to eyade his duty and to such no doubt
the blanks will appear impertinently inquisitlve.
Every good citizen should and will make an hon.
eat return of all taxable property in his posses
sion and thus bear his proportion of the expense
of protection.
The reports made from the Department of
Finance to the Legislative Assembly for some
years past, prove that some effort must be made,
sooner or later, to Increase the revenues of the
Kingdom. If the present rate of taxation is too
small, it must be increased, and, as a matter of
course, much dissatisfaction will be the result.
But if by q careful and thorough assessment o.
property the necessity of increasing the rate can
be avoided, no one will blame the government for
the effort but to the contrary, it will be a mat
ter upon which taxpayers may properly congra-
tulate both themselves and the government.