The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-09-07
TUESDAY September 7th
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Legislative Assembly made pro-
gress with general business yesterday.
Among the measures disposed of was
the Chinese Special Hospital Tax bill,
which was indefinitely postponed on mo-
ton of the Attorney General. 1t GER
tainly was a bill which introduced a
very dangerous innovation. We do not
deny that the Chinese should be com
PEELED to take care of their own sick and
destitute without permitting them to be-
come public burdens; but that is an en-.
tirely different thing from what was pro-
posed to be done Under the very thin
pretense of promoting charitable aid, the
Government was to become mere tax
ing machine for the benefit of Chinese
society, incorporated under the laws OF
the Kingdom, which was to be permitted
to do, by special enactment, what its
charter in express terms forbade.
Furthermore, its charter was recog-
nized in the bill, thus giving it an ex-
ceptional status among corporations.
But the most Objectionable feature OF
the bill was the fact that it constituted
the Government a taxing agent for
Chinese secret society; that the Govern
rnent was to raise money by taxation
which was to be turned over to the
managers of the Chinese corporation in
question, less small percentage to cover
cost of collection; and that it was to be
81, Il lNfa
kind, and certainly not by appro-
priation of the Legislative Assembly,
as required by the Constitution. The
advocates of the bill-for it had adyo-
Gates in the House, strange to say
commended that the Hospital Tax was a
precedent for it, but the two proposals
are entirely different The Hospital
Tax is levied upon all persons arriving
in the KinSdqm from 8athrqaad BIitRQpt rH re-
der legislative sanction, to the mainten-
ance of public hospital, under efficient
medical control and open to popular and
official inspection. Moreover, the
Queens Hospital is a national institu-
ton, and cannot be classed with such an
hospital as the rejected bill contem-
plated. The Queens Hospital is open
to all !; it is a credit to the Kingdom, and
although we do not approve of the Hospi-
pital Tax as means of raising revenue for
it, We see nothing wrong in the principle OF
such tax, but only in its incidence. 1t
falls upon the wrong people, that is all.
However, the Legislature put a stop to
this attempt to fasten the Chinese sys-
tenn of secret organization and arbitrary
control upon our judicial system. 1t was
a bold attempt on the part of it's pro-
motors, and indicates to what lengths
they are prepared to go to carry point.
In conclusion, the argument of Mr.. Cas-
tie that self-interest would compel the
leaders in this Chinese incorporation to
make an honest return of Chinese resi-
dents to the Assessors, is an equivOcal
one. He said that the enactment of the
measure would add about $40, 900 a year
to the revenue. 1t may be so, but We
doubt it. We cannot believe that 50
many Cinnamon evade payment of
taxes, but if this be the case 1t is a very
poor compliment to the honesty of the
Chinese, who enjoy all the advantages
and protection of the law and who should
be willing to contribute their fair share
of taxes for the support of the Govern
ment.
The Legislature considered Il bill con-
shutting local road boards. 1t is well
intended, but is crude and ill-digested
measure, and if left to its operation in its
present shape would be a source of mis-
chief and incentive to peculation. Our
space, however, does not admit of an
analysis of the bill at present. Suffice
it, that while we approve of every step
in the direction of local sef-government,
we are decidedly opposed to a weakening
of control over the taxes, whether special
or general. This bill as it passed through
committee does not provide any suffi-
cient or even reasonable check upon the
OF the road tax and direct
appropriation in aid of local improve /
ment works, while it enables the col |
ectors and road boards, as we may style |
the local bodies created by this bill, to .
arrange everything on the basis OF recip- |
rocal advantage. A measure with such !
vast possibilities of fraudulent perversion
should not appear on the statute book.
Road Supervisors-in-Chief may not have
been what they should be, but if this
pill becomes law the last state OF the
country will be worse than the first.
A long report from the Committee on
Elections was read, also bill embody-
ng its recommendations. His Excel
ency Mr.. Gibson, in answer to ques
ion, explained the facts regarding the
russian ship Moskwa. Other business
vas transacted and the Legislature adj
burned.