The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-26
Honolulu Library and Reading Room
Association Assessed for 1894.
PETITION IN SENATE AGAINST 1T.
First Time In Fifteen Years Asked 10
Pay Taxes-Exempt Educational
InstitRtion-OpIum ExplanatiOn-EH-
psnses LehuA-Min. Damon's Policy.

THIRTY-FOURTHD DAY, JULY 25TH.
Senator Brown read the following
petition:
HONOLULU, July %, 1895.
To the Honorable WILLIAM G. WILL
DER, President, and the members
of the Senate:
GENTLEMEN The petition of the
undersigned, officers and trustees of
the Honolulu Library and Reading
Room Association, respectfully show
eth:
That the said Association was organ
lied in the year 1879, and that from
that time to the present it has been in
continuous and active operation.
That on or about the first day of
tary of the said Association received
an official communication, of which
the following is copy:
HONOLULU, June %, 1895.
"H. A. PARMALEE, Esq Secretary,
Honolulu Library and Reading
Room Association.
"DEAR SIR:-The Honolulu Library
and Reading Room Association prop
erty in Honolulu is assessed for 1894
as follows:
"Real Estate, ............ $8, 900.
personal Property, 1000.
$4,000
"TOtal $12O 90.
"Please settle the above taxes with
in thirty days
"YOurs respectfully,
JONATHAN SHAW,
Assessor First Division"
That from the time of its organiza-
finn down n N M a
communication, q period of over If
teen years, the Association has never
been assessed or asked to pay taxes, it
being understood that il was an euu-
catiOnal institution, and as such en-
titled to exemption.
The said Association is not in any
sense a business concern, its entire in-
come and funds being devoted to
maintaining a library and reading
room. The only person deriving any
direct pecuniary benefit are a librarian
and janitor, both working for very
moderate pay.
Aside from these general cOnsidera-
tiOns, which in the opinion of your
petitioners seem to establish q claim
to q continuance of the exemption
hereto enjoyed, your attention is re-
spectfully called to The following facts:
l. A large and literally supplied
reading room is open at all times,
with the exception of legal holidays,
Sundays included, and every one has
practically free access to and use Of
the same Irrespective of membership.
2. A valuable reference library is at
the service OF all persons desiring to
consult it, including teachers, every
day and evening except Sundays.
8. For some years it has been the
rule of the Association, that all peO-
pie in the Government schools, when
bringing proper recommendations
from their teachers, are allowed the
use of the circulating department free
of charge.
4. The Hawaiian Historical Soci-
ETY. has accom- mOdations in the build
ing belonging to the Association, and
a room for the storage of their large
and valuable collection of books, PAM
phlets and manuscripts, with the ne
cessary cases, shelving and furniture,
all rent free.
In the opinion of your petitioners
these advantages accorded to the gen.
eral public, aud especially the value
of the reading room and reference de-
partment to teachers and students, to-
gether with the free use of the circu-
IatIng department, for the pupils of
the Government schools, is direct
contribution to the interest of public
education that should secure the re-
versal of this attempted new depar-
ture on the part of the Tax Assessor.
Your petitioners therefore pray that
the Legislature will take such action
as will secure the continuance of the
exemption the Association has always
heretofore enjoyed, aud believes TO
be entirely reasonable and equitable.
The petition was signed by the Off
GERS and all the trustees excerpt the
president, Hon. Charles r. Bishop,
and Professor NJ. NJ. Scott, both OF
whom are absent from the country
Referred to the Finance Committee.
The Committee on Commerce re-
ported favOrably on the Kerosene
Withdrawal Act.
The same committee favored the
passage of the Currency Act, recon-
mending the Insertion of the word,
''respecIivtl ly' after the word certlfi-
cate. The report was adopted.
On motion of Senator WateThouse,
the Cable Enabling Act was taken up
aud passed third reading.
The Currency Act a so passed third
reading.
Senator McCandless asked the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs If any dem and
] ad been made on the Government
arising out of arrests made during the
January uprising.
Senator Brown stated that the con-