The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-07-01
The Proposed Revenue Changes.
HoNoLuLU. June 26th, ls1

HoNoLUlU, June 26th, 1876.
70 The Editor Of he Pacific Commercial Advertiser /:
SIR IL was glad to see an expression OF opinion
in the Gazette Of the 2lst from one of our promi-
nent merchants upon the proposed revenue changes.
1t was no doubt partly with the object of obtain
ing the views Of that part of the community that
is so directly interested in the proposed new taxes,
that the plans Of the Minister of Finance have been
put forward in advance of any Acts 10 carry them
out. As Mr.. Davies observes in his letter on this
subject, the Ministers have had ample time TO con.
slider these questions, and if the plan proposed by
them is not pretty nearly the best general plan
that can be adopted, | agree with Mr.. Davies, that
it ought to be, and the Ministers can have no apol
ogy to offer if it is not. His Majesty's Government
must expect criticism, and they should not ask
that their proposals be handled with gloves on.
Mr.. Dayies has done a public service by boldly
and promptly attacking the scheme of the Govern
ment at every point where be considers IL vulnera-
BILE, and such points seem in Mr.. Davies view TO
exist pretty nearly all round il. Let us then eX-
anime how far the different objections which Mr.
Davies makes 70 the Government are well con-
sideTed.
The first objection is placed in such clear aud
definite language and would be so serious. II true.
that ] cannOtdo better than reproduce IL here. Mr..
Davies says There are many who will have no
benefit from the TTeaty-cleTgymen. principals
ana teachers OF SCHOOLS. families living on Small
fixed incomes and others whose names we can Gil
in from our own circles and il would be a scan
dal and an injustice TO saddle them with such q
list Of taxes as the Minister Of Finance proposes,
and for such an object-the relief CT Agriculture.
To many, our cheap housekeeping has been a
great boon, but now IL is proposed TO seriously in.
crease the cost OF nearly all their necessaries OF life
and to extort an unheard Of tax from any little
money they may have saved, and all TO make up
this deficit" Now Mr.. Editor, Mr.. Davies admits
he and others were d" startled " when the Govern
ment plan was brought forward. and be may have
written the above sentence under the influence OF
that state OF mind, but 1 am surprised that a sbrewd
man of business shOuld even under those circum-
stances have committed himself 10 a statement 20
much at variance with the facts as that contained
in the last part OF it, Why Mr.. Editor, it seems to
me that ii is just the neeessaries Of life which are
relieved from taxes by the proposed change. But
il will perhaps be more satisfactory 70 place in
two columns the main necessaries Of life which
enter into the question Of housekeeping. In one
column those OF which 10 per cent is taken of, and
in the other those including some Of the same lux
uTies Oh which ID per cent? 10 be adde1. As Is well
known, the price which will be paid by the con-
sumner will be neither az much as 10 per cent less
than he has been paying on the one class nor 10
per cent more on the other class. inasmuch as the
rates Of duty are on foreign cost, not on the price
here. But a. the object is comparison il may not
be necessary to consider this point at present. aud
any housekeeper who IL in the habit Of keeping an
account OF his expenses may estimate what be will
probably gain or lose under the new proposed
tariff
1OPsr CEN eft uAsa 81 4~sS-i
lean gToufh or maH'Jae- I5Per cent added.
tire.
Beef, bacon, pork, ham, aud Ale, porter, beer, cider and
all fresh, smoked or preserved al other fermented drinks.
meats grain, -four, meal and
bran, bread and breadstuhs Of Tea.
all kinds, eggsi hsl, oysters,
and all other creatures living
an the water and the products
thereof; fruits, nuts Vegeta-