The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-05-05

Senator Holsfein presented the report
of the committee on the Portuguese Pc
tition. The preamble reviews the pc
tition and the committee draws conclu-
sicns as follows:
Your committee does not find that
since the arrival of the various ship
ments of Portuguese laborers. wages for
Portuguese laborers on plantations
have been reduced by the immigration
of Chinese and japanese laborers. or
from any cause, such wages at the pres
ent time being about the same as they
were when the Portuguese laborers
came into the country.
While it is true that small property
holders in some cases pay taxes upon
higher proportional assessment than is
the case with large property holders.
there has been no increase in the statu-
tory rate of taxation on real and per-
sonal propeoty since the year 1886. Act
ual increase of taxation has undoubted
ly happened in many instances through
the actual increase in the value of real
estate. The disproportion in the assess
ment of large and small properties
arises mainly from the defective meth
DDS of assessing property provided by
the present statutes. We call your at
tention to the fact that the Legislature
is alive to this unsatisfactory condition
of our tax system, and Is endeavoring to
correct it by new enactments.
We feel assured that the Legislature
appreciates the Importance of the Port
uguese element of the population of the
country, and their industry and thrift,
and especially recognizes the value to
the community of their domestic quail
ties, and the proportionate large num-
Der of families and, children among
them. With these characteristics in
view, legislation has been carried
through, opening the public lands OF
the Republic for settlement in the hope
that thereby opportunities Of materially
improving their conditions and pros
poets might be furnished to many in
dustrious persons and families, includ-
ing many of the Portuguese part of the
community.
We would call the attention of the pc
titioners to the Land Act passed by the
Legislature in 1895. and more particu-
larly to parts and Z of said Act, where
they will find provisions for obtaining
homesteads not to exceed eight acres in
good agricultural land, without charge,
and homesteads of much larger extent
on very reasonable terms.
In regard to the introduction of Chin
csc and Japanese laborers, we feel that
| the numbers admitted must be strictly
| limited to the necessary needs of the
industrial enterprises Of the country
But to prejudice these enterprises by
shutting off their supply of necessary
| labor entirely would EMIL misfortune
upon the whole country and upon all
wage earners.
| Your committee is fully alive to the
importance of encouraging the further
immigration of European laborers and
families, and will recommend the Leg
islature to take action to encourage this
class of immigration.
This we understand to be the policy
of the Executive, and we are assured
that they are taking measures to carry
out this plan.
House bill against ARRAYS and prize
| fighting passed the second reading.
House bill No. 81, relating to larceny
| passed the second reading. House bill
No. q, Ito promote fencing" was refer
| red to the Committee on Public Lands.
| House bill No. 40, on the proposed am
| eIdment to the constitution, effecting
| the number of Senators, went to the
Judiciary Committee on the second
reading. Senate bill No. SO, the Loan
Act, was made the special order for
Tuesday. The substitute bill from the
House relating to the ownership of
property in case of divorce passed the
second reading.
Adjourned.