The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-09

committee, and in answer to a questlO
put TO him, stated that although nc
! specially authorized to speak on that point
sage of this bill would not be regarded b,
the Chinese Government as an unfriendl.
act. Although we have no treaties will
China, yet it is worth while always Il
maintain friendly relations with that grea
Empire, and it is fact of Importance tha
a gentleman of Mr.. You Cha Hee's stand
ing should make such statement. Tbs
committee regarded the entire absence o
any OF the petitioners signing the two peti
tions from this meeting as remarkable
and such absence is not explained, except
on the theory that they are ali secret so
ciety men, and did not wish TO appear and
be questioned thereon. Those who did
present themselves were, with two or three
exceptions, members OF the Chinese Be
neyOlent Society, which association will
have the expenditure of the funds realized
from this proposed law. In some respects
the bill may be said to be i'll their favor
although they will be but trustees. If the
bill should become law it will no doubt add
from $4,000 to $50 900 to the revenue of
the country each year, for undoubtedly a
very large number of Chinese who now es-
cape taxation will be reported to the As
SCISSORS and Collectors by the agents of the
Chinese Benevolent Society.
The bill makes provision sufficient for its
smooth working, and perhaps needs no
change in that respect.
The two petitions referred to pray the
Assembly to reject this bill, or to place the
same tax on all taxpayers, claiming that
this bill is direct class legislation.
The bill imposes on all nOn-naturalized
Chinese residents tax of one dollar in adj
ditiOn to the annual five dollars personal
taxes; and a tax of one dollar upon all
Chinese on arriving in the country in addi-
ton to the two dollars hospital tax now
imposed.
If the bill proposed to tax the Chinese
generally six dollars while others are taxed
but five dollars for general revenue pur-
poses, it would undoubtedly belong to the
branch of legislation complained of, and
perhaps would then contravene the Con-
stitutIon. In argument before the COM
mittee it was suggested that our Constitu-
class legislation.
But, in the opinion of the committee, the
proper Interpretation of both articles ID
and IA of the Constitution forbids such
legislation. This bill, however, is not in
tended to provide for general revenue, it
has a special object to wit, the collection
of fund for the care of such Chinese as
now are, or are likely to soon or III the
future to become public charges.
1t has been suggested that the matter
really belongs to the Police power" OF the
Government. 1t may be SO viewed, and if
such view is correct there can be no doubt
of the right of the Assembly to pass this
bill. The object to be attained is con-
sidered extremely desirable, and if the bill
is not unconstitutional the committee be-
lieve that it ought to pass. As there seems
to be a doubt, possibly but very small
doubt, that the bill is perfectly constitu-
given to the bill, and the committee so
recommend. The petition will of course
lie upon the table.
w. r. CASTLE,
WALTER NJ. GIBSON,
J. T. BAKER.
If the above is not unconstitutional i
favor its passage, but / am in some doubt
]. L. KAULUKoU.
Mr.. Dickey moved the report be adopted.
Mr.. Thurston moved the report be laid
on the table to be considered with the bill.
Carried.
BILL ENGROSSED.
r. Il
reported an Act to provide for
the payment of salaries to August 81, 1886,
as engrossed.
THE POLL TAX.
Mr. Nahale read first an Act to amend
section =, chapter 10, of the Session Laws
Of 1882, relating to the poll tax, by which it
5 reduced from 81 to IS cents. Laid upon
he table to be considered with the tax
dill.
OF THE CHINESE TAX BILL.
Mr.. Richardson presented a resolution
hat the Justices of the Supreme Court be
To give an opinion on the cOnsti-
of the bill to tax Chinese resi-
tents before the Assembly acts upon it.
The resolution was adopted.
STEAMER SUBSIDY.
Mr.. Kalua presented the following reso-
ution:
WHEREAS, The steamer Mokolii has run
egularly between MOlokai, Lanai and La |
laina in accordance with a resolution |
passed at last session. and that none of the |
appropriation has been paid to the owners,
)e it
Resolved, That the Minister of Finance |
oay the sum of s., 200 to the Wilder Steam |
hip Company.
Hon Mr.. Wilder said he had no right TO |
yote on this resolution, but would like TO !
make a statement. At the last session ali
TEN of So 200 was passed for steamer to |
-un between the places mentioned in the |
1t was brought up in August |
SS4. The sum asked for was smaller than |
What was passed, as he stated that no |
steamer could be got for such money. The |
present Minister of the Interior seconded |
he motion to increase the amount, and |
poke and voted for it. The Minister |
.rosSed the floor and asked him if he had a !
steamer that would do. He (the spe2ker) !
tated that he would do the service for $50 |
trip. The sum of S. 200 was passed |
almost unanimously. He took the steamer |
Nokolii off route which was paying and !
placed her on this new route. From the
It'll day of August, 1884, she has made SO