The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-04-10
TAX LIST SUGGESTION.
B. F. Dillingham; Draws interest
ing Conclusions.
TAXES PAID BY o. R. & L. co.
Discrepancy In showing Made by
Business Corporations - Railroad
Paying One-eigth of Total-Proper
Taxation VIII Give surplus.

nc 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 the figures which you
have pnblished are correct, it ceases to
be a wonder that sixty days, epidemic
of cholera, or any other unusual de-
mand upon the public treasury should
bring a heavy strain upon the ex-
checquer. This exposition of 1gures,
showing that $29 ,2O2.74 is the total
amount of taxes paid by eighty-six bust
ness corporations representing directly
and indirectly the wealth of the whole
country. is a most astounding revela-
ton. That the sugar plantations, in
corporated, pay taxes of 1 per cent. on
$4,000, 900, and those held under part
nership and individuals pay 1 per
cent on a possible 100000 more
(Which does not appear clearly in your
exhibiO 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 it's full cash value.
It is a well known fact that the
masses in this country are forced to
pay per cent! upon the full cash val
of their real and personal property. If
1 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.
1t 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
The property of the Oahu Railway
and Land Company, or the principal
part of that company's property-the
railway departments exempt by law
from taxation, and yet it 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, thereewin 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 demand the same privilege, and
if carried into effect it 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 a proper adjustment
of taxes there would be ample revenue
to meet current expense, interest on
bonds. and still have a surplus of $780,
600 to 100000 year to spend in per-
manent improvements
Speaking of the taxes paid by the o.
r. & L. Co. brings to mind a 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 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 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
$1,000 subsidy, during which time the
Government received an increase of tax
es of over $4,000 from business which
grew out of the efforts of the o. R. & L.
Co. The increase of taxes now from
business inaugurated in 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