The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-05
FoRTY-THIED DAY, AUGUST Sd.

FORTY-THIRD DAY, AUGUST Sd.
Printed copies of L. a. Thurston's
report on cable matters were dis
tributed.
Senator Hooking, for Committee on
Passed Bills, reported that the resolu-
ton referring to electric railways and
Senate annexation resolution had
been handed to the President for his
approval.
Senator WateThouse, for Finance
Committee, recommended IA amend
ment to the bill exempting public Ii
braries from taxation; the amendment
included the Honolulu Y. NJ. G.. A.
Senator Brown, for Judiciary Com
mittee, recommended that the bill
regulating District Court appeals be
laid on the table. The report was
adopted.
Senator Schmidt read letter from
the Viticultural Commission of Cali
fornia praying for relief. The letter
claimed that the California wine trade
had suffered greatly through the large
imports of saki to this country and
asked that duty be placed on that
Japanese drink or any other wine
not made from grapes. The letter
was referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
Senate Bill No. Is, relating to mo
tions for new trials, passed second
reading.
The bill exempting public Libraries
from taxation came up. The commit
tees amendment which included the
Y. NJ. g. A. caused much discussion.
Minister Damon said it was mis-
take to exempt sectarian institutions
from taxation. The claim was made
that the Y. NJ. G.. A. was not a sectar-
ian body; he considered it as such not
withstanding. 1t was an evangelical
association pure and simple. The
speaker declared that the constitution
prohibited any meddling in such mat
tiers and hoped that no religious con-
troversy would be started by the law
makers of this Republic. Now was
the time to rule out such legislation.
1t was his duty as Minister of FL
nance to protest and said it was not
right to pay public monies to religious
denominations.
Senator Brown endorsed the remarks
of the speaker and moved that the
original bill pass. Seconded by Sena-
tor Wright.
Senator Baldwin said that the Y.
NJ. G.. A. was not sectarian institu-
ton. 1t was open to all classes, ire
spective of their religious belief. 1t
was valuable public institution and
did much for the moral welfare of
young men. He thought the Y. NJ. C.,
A. was as much entitled to exemption
as churches. He had been asked to
subscribe money from time to time,
and had done so with the understand
ing that there was nothing of a sectar-
ian character about the institution.
Minister Smith favored the amend
ment. The Y. NJ. &. A. was building
q gymnasium for the benefit of young
men and in other ways was doing
much for the physical, mental and
moral advancement of the commu-
nifty. II Catholics or any other relig-
ious denomination started a similar
organization he would favor the re-
mission of taxes in each case. The
law before the Senate could be re-
pealed at any time and ne favored
exemption; for the present at least.
Senator McCandless claimed that it
was as much of public institution
as the Honolulu Library, and in his
opinion, it was more of a public bene-
factor.
a letter from President Lowrey, of
the Association, was read. 1t recited
the advantages furnished young men.
1t was not self-supporting and depend
ed mostly on private donations to
keep the doors open. The officers of
the Institution considered it more of a
public benefit than the Honolulu
Library.
Senator Warehouse said that the
majority of similar institutions in the
United States were exempt from taxa
ton. The Y. NJ. G. A. was for the
benefit OF the whole people and should
not be saddled with heavy taxes.
Minister Damon thought if the
amendment carried it would be the
means of opening the doors to similar
institutions and the matter would
have to be gone over again.
The amendment was lost, to 5 T.: !
Senators Rice, Lyman, Baldwin, Nc |!
Candies and Waterhouse voting aye. |
Original bill passed third reading
unanimously.
OF electricity by the Hawaiian Tram |
ways Company was taken up on third |
reading.
Senator Wright was opposed to the !
clause giving the Minister of the In !
terror power to discharge motormen,
and moved that it be stricken out. !
Minister Smith amended by inserting !
the words ''revoke the license" which |
means the same thing.
The extra appropriation for the ex-
penses of the Legislature was in
creased from $1,000 to $4,000. Passed !
third reading.
At 11:25 o'clock the Senate adj
journed until 10 o'clock Monday
morning.
House of Representatives.