The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-16

nitely postpone the first section. Their
are some good points in other sections o
, the bill.
Mr.. ThurSton said the motion was no
made To kill the bill, but simply because
the first section i 50 complicated as com
pared with the present law. that il would
create confusion ana promote litigation
The definition OF rea. estate could not bt
understood by the average Assessors
There are "a number OF Tax Assessors il
the House. and he would ask them if they
found a man with leasehold property
would they tax it a. personal property OF
real estate. They should have all the
property in the Kingdom taxed. 1t was
true that 1t was possible under the existing
statute 10 avoid paying taxes on the actual
value OF land by leasing it at a nominal
figure, but the land was taxed, although
| not for proper amount. He favored the
/ indefinite postponement Of the section,
His Excellency AR. Dare said that all
Governments, as they grow IN age and in
crease in population, increase in cost. This
| had to be met by increased taxation. 1t is
/ wise in legislators to encourage industries
and make them pay their share OF taxes
/ I
! of industries, however. When man
! plants few fruit and nut trees and vines,
! he should not be taxed, but when vine
| yards, fruit farms and nut groves become
established industries, which men manage
As business for profit, they should bear
their full share of public burdens. In this
bill it was not intended to tax fruit or nut
trees or vines. The gentleman having it in
charge had moved the omission of the
words referring to this class of property,
which had been objected to. The Attorney
General then proceeded To reply to Mr..
Thurston's criticism OF the definition OF
real estate, but was 80 frequently inter
rupted by HILARIOUS conversation and noise,
OF which the leaders of the Opposition APP
peared to be the head centers, that he was
compelled to resume his seat, remarking
that he had not been accustomed to this
kind of legislative proceedings The Chair
mans gavel fell, and the hum of conversa-
ton and tittering laughter ceased, where
upon Messrs. Castle, Thurston and Dole
stood up and declared that they had been
paying marked attention to the argument
of the Attorney General, which manifeStly
was not the case. His Excellency did not
resume his argument, however, remarking
that it these gentlemen were paying atten-
ton it was very odd, inasmuch as he had
heard as much hilarity from their side of
the House as one would hear at a minstrel
show
= Mr.. Kauhane said that the taxing OF
fruit trees and other trees would have the
effect OF discouraging Hawaiians in plant
ing and raising them. 1t. would be really
bad thing and great loss if this were to
happen.
~ Hon. Mr.. Cleghorn supported the mo-
ton to indefinitely postpone the section.
He believed in having all tax laws as simple
"a possible. This new law makes some
complications that are not necessary. He
could not see that deeds, bonds and CON
tracts had anything to do with real estate.
He agreed with the remarks of Mr.. Kau-
hane on the taxing of fruit trees. They
want trees in abundance. There are
many bare places now worth very little, |
but he hoped in time to see them covered
with vineyards. But they would not be if
this new law passed The taxes at the i
present time are reasonable enough, and |
the law is simple. They should be very
He believed in taxing ali kind of property !
wherever found.
Mr.. Hayselden said section one of this /
bill was brought in by a special |
committee. They did not consider the I
section perfect and brought it in to be !
amended by the Committee of the Whole. |
All the statements about fruit trees and |
shrubs are made to influence the mem |
bers against this bill, as they are now |
taxed under the old law The latter does |
not include mortgages, and that is what !
lawyers do not want. The assessing of |
mortgages is for the benefit of the poor.
If man with land worth 81 800 borrows |
$500 from Mr. Castle, the latter will have /
to pay the taxes on $500, and the borrower |
will pay on 81 900. This is the theory of |
the existing law, but it is not the practice. |
He thought the section could be amended, |
and moved that after the last word "cov- !
cred" in subdivision one there be in |
serted provided that claim to land shall |
only be assessed whenever such claim is |
made to land upon which no taxes are as
sessed to any persons in possession" He /
also moved to strike out in subdivision |
four the words, ''all fruit trees, nut-bear- !
ing trees, ornamental trees and vines"
Mr. Brown said he was not III favor of |
section one or the proposed amendments. |
No improvement could be made on the |
present law as to the definition of prop |
erty.
Mr. Richardson said this was one of the |
most important bills of the session. When |
he came to the word mortgages in this |
first section he could not understand it, |
He was aware that mortgage is security |
for debt. Can legislators say this piece !
of paper is real estate?
Mr. Hayselden-Yes, inst as much as
machinery.
Mr.. Richardson, COMMUNICATIVE Asses !
sors are men of average intelligence. He |
knew some of them would have difficulty |
in understanding this section. II mort |
cages were to be taxed, they should be in
cluded in personal property. He thought
the present law defined real estate clear |
enough.
His Excellency Mr.. Dare asked the hon
orable member whether large landowners
bore their share under the present law.
Mr.. Richardson. in reply, stated that if
the assessing was placed in the hands of
intelligent men they would be properly