The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-18
PRICE FIVE CENTS.

and then there are the licenses and
in addition TO all these it is proposed
TO place an income tax. 1t was too
much altogether. This new law or
proposed act says, You shall be taxed
simply because you make money" after
everything you have has been fairly or
sufficiently taxed. Altogether the tax
alton will reach ten per cent. Laws
should not be established to work in
justice to citizens.
Mr.. w. A. Bowen read from a pa
per which he had on a previous occa-
sion submitted to the committee.
Among the points he made were: That
with Schedule E in operation there
would be a double income tax It is
proposed to tax property that is in
no way defined by the constitution. 1t
is unconstitutional and discriminating.
1T will breed dissatisfaction in many
ways. 1t will further confuse admins
tration of tax laws already embarras-
sing and perpleXing alike to the Gov
ernment and property holders. 1t af
fords opportunity and suggestion for
evasion. 1t is on speculative basis.
system of discounts. 1t presents a
wholly unfair basis of valuation. 1t
does not permit an appeal to the SUI
preme Court. Too much power is CIV
en- to the Minister and the officers in
his department and finally the Govern
ment does not want the law.
Mr.. Theo. H. Davies said that the
property law here was inaccurate and
involved and mistaken. A physician
earning perhaps $4,000 a year would
pay on few hundred of personal prop
erty and the same might be said of
the lawyer. Taxes had gone up in the
country from one-eighth of one per
cent to one per cent on property
Some enterprises considered excellent
investments pay only per cent. A
genuine income tax is recommended
by it's directness and simplicity. This
act is what some assessor makes it.
"A tax should be collectable without
insult or persecution. An income tax
would be the most suitable for this
country. 1t should be inaugurated,
but it should be simple and should
take the place of property tax. At the
suggestion Of Mr.. SwanZy and in an
swer to some questions by Mr.. Nc
'Stocker, Mr.. Davies explained that the
income tax in England now was per
cent and was collected quietly and
without friction or undue publicity.
Mr. Davies thought with Mr.. Bowen
that the whole question should be re-
ferred to Commission to present an
act that would embody a revision of
the revenue laws here based on con-
clusions reached by through investi-
cation.
Senator Baldwin said that at first
in the last Legislature he was not in
favor of an income tax, but had be-
come friendly to it before the end Of
the session. He had understood that
it was to be operated with the old
property tax alone and not with the
Schedule E. This Sched-
ule E was very Objectionable in it's
application. He had just been served
with notice that the valuation on Hal
ku plantation was to be increased
500, 900, that the same was to be done
with Paia and shat Spreckelsville was
to be raised $300,000 He could see
readily, as could anyone, that this was
simply guessing and perhaps trying TO
see just how much could be imposed on
taxpayers. 1t is a case of snap judg-
ment and people don't like it. If the
matter was put to a popular vote the
people would be agreeable to having
both income and property tax if Sched-
ule E should be omitted. Consid-
ering the entire situation and the
complications and the dissatisfac-
tion, the Senator said he was in fav-
or of Commission to present a fair
and equitable plan.
Mr. Geo. r. Carter suggested that a
Commission should have authority
that would enable it to ascertain just
what the income Of the country was.
but he did not care to offer an amend
ment to the resolution by Mr.. Lowrey.
The resolution was then adopted and
the meeting adjourned.