The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-04-10
TAX LIST SUGGESTION.
B. f. Dillingham; Draws Interest
ing Conclusions.
TAxEs PAID BY 0. R. & L. co.
Discrepancy In showing Made by
business Corporations isailro"d
Paying one-eigth of Total-Proper
TAXATION VIII Givc surplus.

Mr.. EDITOR:-whoever has been in
strumental in bringing before the pub
lie the figures which appeared in the
columns of your paper this morning
under the head of Review OF Tax Re-
turns has certainly earned the respect
and good will of every honest taxpayer
in Hawaii nei.
Assuming tn figures which you
have published are correct, it ceases to
be a wonder that a sixty days epidemic
of cholera, or any other unusual de-
mand upon the public treasury should
bring heavy strain upon the ex-
checquer. This exposition OF -.gures,
showing that s29.202.74 is the total
amount of taxes paid by eighty-six bust
ness corporations representing directly
and indirectly the wealth of the whole
country. is most astounding revela-
ttion. That the sugar plantations, in
corporated, pay taxes OF per cent. on
$40, 900 900. and those held under part
nership and individuals pay l per
cent on a possible 100000 more
(which does not appear clearly in your
exhibi) fails to satisfy the unsuspect-
ing taxpayer who in making his returns
takes oath that the cash value of his
property as made by him is true to the
best of his knowledge and belief. and
acting in good faith returns his proper
ty at its full cash value.
II is a well known fact that the
masses in this country are forced to
pay per cent. upon the full cash value
| al
l per cent. taxes should be collected
from all property on the same basis of
value, the taxes from the sugar in
dustry and business corporations
would exceed 100000 per annum.
II is to be hoped that the present
Legislature will give this important
matter the attention it deserves, and
look to the proper source for the neces-
sary income of the country. rather than
to waste time in by-paths seeking to
squeeze a few hard-earned dollars from
physicians and BARRIERS and others who
already contribute more than their
share to the public revenue.
The property of the Oahu Railway
and Land Company, or the principal
part of that companys property-the
railway departments exempt by law
from taxation. and yet il appears that
the said corporation paid last year
about one-eighth of the taxes paid by
all the business corporations Of this
country. Is this unjust condition of the
| tax system, or lack of system, to con-
tinue under a republican form of gov
eminent? If so, there will surely be
trouble when The next TAX assessment
comes around If money justly due the
public treasury is withheld by the veal
thy of the country, those who have less
should demaud the same pririlege, and
if carried into effect ii may help to solve
the home loan" problem, when rich
and poor alike come forward to invest
in 6 per cent. Government bonds money
which all have withheld from taxes
due. But the question of interest to
be drawn from an exhausted treasury
will then appear to be another matter.
This country is one of the richest in
the world. There is no good reason
why its debt could not be consolidated
at per cent. With proper adjustment
of taxes there would be ample revenue
to meet current expense, interest on
bonds, and still have surplus of $780,
900 to $4,000 year to spend in per-
manent improvements.
Speaking. of the taxes paid by the o.
R. & L. Co. brings to mind remark
made by a prominent gentleman in
this city, who said: Think what the
Government has done for the O.. R. &
l.. Co."
AS this impression seems to exist to
some extent, that the Government has
done a great deal for the railway COM
pany, for which it may or may not ever
be rewarded, permit me in this connec-
ton to mention a few important facts
which may be acceptable to those who
care to know the truth.
Prior to the extension of the railway
to Waianae, the Government had paid
to the o. R. & L. Co. in round numbers
81 900 subsidy, during which time the
Governments an increase OF tax
es of over 10000 from business which
grew out of the efforts of the o. r. & l.
Co. The increase of taxes now from
business inaugurated liz connection
with the o. r. & L. Co., and which
would not have existed but for that
company, amount to $4,000 annually.
The figures given this morning as the
amount of taxes paid by eighty-six cor
porations last year are $29, 202.74; de-
duct from that amount S3,508.5O, the
amount paid by the o. r. & l.. Co., and
we have S25,69424
The amount of increase in taxes which
the o. r.. & L. Co. created for this Gov
eminent during its short existence is
over so per cent of an amount equal
to the total amount paid by all other
business corporations in this coun-
try, as given in your list in this morn
ing's issue
Perhaps the writer will be pardoned
for mentioning this fact, under all the
circumstances. to which he will add
that prominent member Of the Senate
made the remark to friend Of the
writer who had been talking with him
about interests concerning this road: 81
don't believe in railroads, anyway"
B. F. DILLINGHAM;