The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-05-07

rs for several weeks, ana the coLnnllOSS
comes forward and recommends that
license on a particular business De rals-
ed from $50 to $3.50. 1 would like to ask
a member of the committee present
why the change is made?
Rep. Richards-From conversation
with Rep. Winston. l am satisfied that
he would change that portion OF the
report of the committee. He inumated
! to me that he had been mis1nformed
| regarding It.
Rep. Rycroft-I think Pep. Robertson
was correct in his remarks regarding
the raising Of revenue by the Govern
Inent. There's been great deal OF talk
about prosperous times, but doubt 1t,
except among people who are interested
in sugar. The provisions Of the bill
would materially interfere with the In
PRODUCTION and passage Of an income
tax bin while this is IN force.
Rem. Rond-The objections TO tle bill
ON the part of number Of people Il ON
the ground that il would affect begin
ners. That part is the hardest In
mans life; for men who are established
It would not matter so much d.
Rep. Hanuna favored retaining Sec
zion 16 as IL is IN the bill. There was
good deal of roar about changing II 10
something else, but TO him 1t WAS like
jumping out of a warm fire into very
hot one. There are men here toaning
money-pawnbrOkers some OF them
who are making lot of money Why
should they not be taxed as Chinaman
is who opens Iitte grocery shop? This
section is a good one and should re-
main.
Rep. Winston-The items are unwfse-
ly massed. think they should be sep
arated, and IF favorit1sm rs to be shown,
let it be to the poor.
Rep. Robertson entered the hall at
this time, and Minister Damon said:
REP. Robertson favored me this
morning with a manly, straightfor-
ward criticism ON the matter which /
have brought forward to raise revenue.
l enjoy such things, and will answer
his prepared speech in as few words
as possible. have learned since this
session opened that the Minister Of Fin
ance has to think on his feet; he has
not a great deal Of time to prepare
speeches IN answer to members With
out taking up too much time, VIII an
swer the principal point in his attack,
which was on the score that had not
presented an income tax bill. / started
ont with an empty Government treas
uTy barely three years ago, at tire be-
ginning, Of this Republic, you may say a
young beginner. When began as Min
lister in the Provisional Government we
had but few thousand dollars to meet
the bills due, but by careful nursing
and the cooperation OF my colleagues
we made a surplus. Then came the revo
,S.1If
back SO that at the beginning of this
period was simply on my bare bones
as far as money WAS concerned. Now
have TO begin again, but under better
conditions. because matters are more
settled and we have representative
Government, and hope to build UP an
other surplus. If l am to be Successful
must be supported. If should bring
in an income tax bill without having
statistics, without knowing how many
people would be included in the tax,
or how much money could be raised,
you would do nothing. If / had done
this, and with ankenemy in camp, not
one who would use arms, but who would
work to defeat the measure on account
of its incompleteneSs, We would still be
badly off. These things must be taken
by degrees Now I have two things
more to contend with. I must meet the
House and 1 must meet the Senate. An
income tax bill might pass here with
flying colors, but when it went into the
Senate, to more conservative men, it
would be blocked. Then where would I
be? may look like man defeated at
a prize fight when / get through pre-
senting bills, but it is my duty to do
that which will increase the revenue.
The bills l speak of will increase the
revenue during the period $140, 900, and
this money will not all come out of the
friends of Mr.. Robertson who have ask
ed his aid in reducing the burdens they
carry. A number of friends have anx-
iously asked me about increasing the
property tax. and when I said did not
intend to do they were surprised 1
found that 5000 people on the Islands
hold little pieces OF property. and an
increase would bring to the Govern
ment $35, 900 per year. think that is
the amount, but l have not the figures
with me- The gentleman says I have
not paid enough attention to an in
come tax have had harder knocks
than Rep. Robertson gave me for pre-
sentfng species of income tax, and
have been ronndly abused for it. refer
TO the funding bill / would Like to ask
any gentleman if that Is not an income
tax You read in the papers Of the op-
position I am receiving in trying TO
carry that bill Now. II I am condemned
fnY that, ! should he simply wiped out
OF existence for attempting anything
so radical as an income tax pure and |
simple Let us come a little nearer
home arranged the appropriation bill |
and It was satisfactory TO the Excel |
tive, but when brought 1t before the |
Legislature. what was the result2 Thir-
~ level-headed, intelligent men raised |
it above my hg1lr@ s244,O 900 Il Is very
nice 10 pose as philanthropist, but |
capital Is a tough thing to fight Now |
Let me occupy FEW minutes more of
YOng time; Let ms take up a few of the |
items In this bill admit that license