The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-04-27

Mr.. EDITOR:-There is no subject of
greater importance now before the Leg
islature of the Republic of Hawaii than
that Of taxation.
The inadequacy of the measure
brought before the upper house
for the relief of the situation makes 1t
hard to credit the fact that the Gov
eminent realizes how stern the neces-
sity is for a measure of taxation that
shall be not only adequate but rightly
based. No tax measure can be con-
sidered adequate and rightly based
which contents itself with imposing
burdens that will inevitably bear dis
proportionately upon the owners OF
small possessions, or which on the lace
of it is bound to be considered by the
majority of the community as grievous
and unjust.
The plea that the demand for i'll
creased income is great and the urgency
stringent does not justify the hasty pas
sage of a measure that is saturated with
unfairness, and yet at the same time
does not meet the demands OF the STU
alton. In war there is no time to ask
nice questions as to the ownership Oh
this or that property, and if military
necessity demands the destruction OF
the poor mans house and property IL
has to be done remorselessly.
But to incorporate in tax law the
severity, not to say brutality, that might
no excusahle in a war measure would be
irexcusabIy bad generalship and pad
policy.
It is of all problems the most simple
to devise a measure OF taxation thdI
shall Law heavy and unfair burdens on
the noor man and the owner of small
possessions. Most anybody, even the
most witless, can get up a license tax
that shall compel the butcher, the oaker
and the candle-stick maker to pay Il
GOOD round sum into the national treas
nrv for the privilege of practlc1ng MS
calling.
THAT is a measure in which the grand
Turk can give us points and go US one
hetter every day in the week. But IL is
not wise legislation.
Hawaii is rich, not only in natural
resources but in the income from IL
vested capital. Any measure OF taxation
which fails to search out ana MAKE
suitable demands upon the large III
comes that flow from capital, whether
coming to private individuals or cor
norations. is from the nature or the
case inadeuuate and unjust. II sugar
is king, let it pay its way unoer Tie
Republic Noblesse obl1ge.
The Minister of Finance In MS repoL'
for the year ending December oIsI' 1919
saws that 1.-The smaller hololngs pay
nooro than their full proportion OF taxes
- rea1 estate: including those who pay
DC high as $3.50, they pay over nfty PEI
cent. of the total assessment. III
6ividuals pay s92, 267.76 on SS,226, 10
ond generations pay S85,379.39 on 30
597 e2e Here again" says ne, the III
d;1iduaI Davs on sworn statement "
IN he claims. or the assessor KNOWS liz
possesses: but in the case or corpora
ions there is manifest cause Oh coin
nlaint. for the returns 10 the Ih'ei . ~
nenartment show an ln'esCeo cap
Of s27 600 600. which neither their re
IS On real or personal property VII
iustify.'' (The Minister no doupI ne1n
hich are not manifest in their re
+nrnsl That is to say, instead OF pay1n
600 600 on their invested capltal Oh sH''
900 600. corporations pay only Oh Pc
cont of $4,000, or less than ohe-'iiiI
of what individuals Woulo De ie4uiA
Tn nav on the same lnVesIhenI.
What is the remedy proposed 10 nee
this gIaring injustice ana ine! !u,
Doos anv one suppose that IL VIII
nbed nv changing the time of as
Ss-oen+ from July 1st to January Is
20 anv other date? Clearly not. III
800 sbrewdness which in the case
80 enqar corporations, or OF cnei
cents empties the warehouse Oh II
tyo6e contents before the SOtn OIL = uh
con surely find some metnou W SIP
1oro,o mart of them abroad peLoIe -
o1ct of December, and can tnus iauen lo
,oorn the best efforts OF the ASSESS
The relief afforded by the eAPeuien'
at the best but partial ,.os rot mr.,
The hest measure OF relleI YET pl'
sed for the gIaring inequitles Oh "
nresent system OF taxatlOn - poDr
pdI1 that brought forward py r'epf
sentative Winston. ,,-,+o,,s HI
IT would seem as il Mr.. Winoton =,
,ocod the amount Of exemption =
t p and that 81 900 would De hea,
Ne r;obt figure than $4,000. some LII
81 s60O would be better stun, anu pe
taDs thew are right. But TINS 10 |" W
t;op of detail and should not DELAY a.
ION. the bill is the thing 90
l0T The ell importance of this measure saa 1,S es
1T he oyerestimated. It snlnee A
bright ppu light in the midst OF great oAr
ness. .a ahout the di
vi that attaches to goVernm.e
9 c bonds offer high rate o o. as Ia
est, and this fact has been % the n
argument in favor OF reau refund t
f;onaI debt. BY all means r
debt if possible. 1850 dfscreditat
But is it any ~ nav cents I
for a government 70 p@'