The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-12-16

&c a.lIso OF the people. In that case |
IL Is tlme for the six years to end i'm
lneuiateiy. again particularly de-
sire 10 disclaim any disrespect to the
Bench, though they have some pretty
serious faults and good many of
tnem; Unfortunately the constitu-
!ional privilege of freedom of speech
Is greatly curtailed. 1 appeal to Mr..
Bush on that. Mr.. Bush-There are
[ L suits pending against me.
zine speaker read section 4 fav-
qrlng more equitable taxation
lt Is notorious that the burden of
taxation is borne by the poor, and
not by the rich. Take the case of
Wainaku Sugar Plantation in Hilo,
1t is capitalized at S5OO,OOO and paws
on less than S250,00O. In a single
year, it paid 100000, 66 per cent. in
olVldends, and yet paid taxes on
nearly 100000 less than it paid divi
bends in a single year. This is only
one sample. [ have incurred the
hatred of the sugar planters because
L have favored just taxation. l do
not think a man should escape taxa
ton merely because he is enormously
rich. do not remember, by the way,
single decree in the Supreme Court
which has not allowed the rich to
escape the tax assessor. Tn these
cases the Court always finds the law
inadequate. In justice to the Court,
L should state that in these cases it is
the law which is at fault. "a voice:
They all own stock paying 60 per cent.
Well, there is nothing like being
thrifty. Some of them came here
early enough to get into that habit.
believe the amount exempted
from taxation should be raised to
$500 or 1000. The Government
should regard the rights of the poor
and the rich will regard their own
rights. That is the history of civil
ization everywhere. Applause and
voice: Everytime. The speaker
went on to favor differential land
tax, which would compel the holders
Of large lands, unused, to parcel them
out into homesteads. AS to gradu-
ated income tax, he felt more doubt
full. If property were once reached
and taxed that would be indirectly a
| tax on incomes. Income taxes were
unpopular. Corporations should pay
full taxes on their apitaliZatiOn, and
whatever property they might hold
in excess of that. With regard to the
declaration in favor of suppression of
mOnOpOlies, he was also in full SYM
pathy.
The speaker, after reading the Sec
ton in regard to election of public
officers by the people, said, 1 am in
favor Of the election of officers within
just bounds. 1t cannot be extended
to all offices. The election of Road
Boards is step in the direction of
local self-gOvernment. District Judges
might be elected, with the power of
removal by the Judiciary for miscon-
duct. So with many other officers.
But notice in the papers tendency
to carry it too far. Heads of depart
ments must have control of their sub
ordinates. The principle, however, of
election is a good one. The section in
favor of protection of home industries,
the speaker favored. Certain sugar
magnates, casting about in their
minds for some means to save them
selves, had pitched on the rice indus
try. We are not in rice. We are in
sugar. If we could get Asiatic rice
free of duty, they said We could save a
dollar a month on each laborer. This is
a shortsighted, selfish policy, and
should be fought tooth and nail by all
friends of the natives who are inter
ested in the rice industry through
their rents. Free rice would cripple
or ruin the rice industry and those
deriving revenue from it will lose
that with nothing to take it's place.
This is one of the most unjust and in
human propositions [ ever heard
from the sugar planters of these ISL
ands. am no enemy of the sugar
industry but if they persist in this
| nf MT 1irrl, No
made on them in the legislature in
the way of legislation on the labor
system, etc. LApplause. The sugar
planters must not think that they
can come before the country with
such a devilIsh proposition without
fear of reprisals. / trust that wise
policy will prevail and that no war
will open. None will unless they
(the planters) begin it.
(The speaker read the plank with
regard to local self government and a
more liberal policy toward the outer
districts.) That is reasonable. Homo
lulu should not endeavor to hog the
whole thing.
After reading the plank regarding
protection to the labOring classes the
Speaker continued: This is delicate
subject. I have always been in favor
of protecting native and foreign labor
from the Asiatics. I believe the
Chinese are entitled to the benefit of
the constitutional guarantees. They
have rights here, but immigration
should not go to such an ex-
tent as to make it impossible
for white men to live here
according to their standard. under
stand the natives in Koolau cannot
get any work. The Government
ought not to assist the planters to
employ Chinese to the exclusion of
whites and Hawaiians. 1t should
encourage condition of things which
will drive the natives to the wall. I
know there is a great deal of cheap
mounting on this subject. There is a
prejudice against the Chinese as Chi
nese with which do not sympathize.
I know that the great friend of the
people, and particularly himself, Mr..
Marsden, says he can introduce coolies
at 20 cents day. He used to work
for his daily bread, but he seems to
have forgotten that the labOrers have
rights or necessities, and is willing
that they shall go to the devil, to add
little more 10 his plethoric purse.
Mr.. President, I have already ex-
tended my remarks to too great
length. There are one or two mat
tiers in the platform as to which my
opinion is already virtually eX-
pressed. There is q popular belief