The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-20
NOT YET A PARK.
Continued from Page i

again, W nat SuOuIQ De uOue TO-DAY,
ought not 10 be put off until tomor-
row. and We would, by pOstponing the
enactment OF an income tax at this
session, be placing on others the re-
sponsibility which we should assume.
Further, by the very conditions Of
our community, it is impossible to ar
rive at a just rate for assessment, I'M
til the amount and number of taxable
incomes are Obtainable. This can only
be obtained after an income tax has
been in operation, and the passage of
the present act, with amendments, will
form a basis on which the next, or
coming Legislature may perfect the
whole system Of taxation"
Then follows a long list Of amend
mentS recommended. The committee
further recommended the following
joint resolution in order that the whole
tax system may be adjusted and placed
on fair, equal and just basis at the
next session Of the Legislature.
Whereas, The present systems of
taxation are in many respects unjust,
unfair and unreasonable, and that
thorough adjustment and reorganiza-
ton of the present system of taxation
is imperative;
''Be it resolved by the Senate and
House of Represen tatives that the
President, by and with the approval
Of the Cabinet, shall Immediately after
the approval of this resolution appoint
a commission of three members who
shall consider ways and means for the
improvement and adjustment of the
license, property, Income and Poll tax
systems, and shall report at the next
session Of the Legislature, some bill
or bills for such improvement and ad-
justment, together with any recon-
mendations which they may see fit.
Resolved further, That there be set
apart in the appropriation bill from
any available funds in the treasury,
the sum of $4,000 for the remunera-
ton and expenses of such commits
sion"
This report was recommended print
ed.
Rep. Pogue next presented another
report of the Finance Committee on
House Bill so, relating to creating an
Auditor-General's department. in part,
as follows:
I'VE find that the present system of
auditing public accounts is entirely
satisfactory, not only to the Auditor
General, and the Minister of Finance
but to the public at large and gen
orally to all concerned, although it
seems to your committee that the
present law is ample in many re-
spects, the fact still remains that only
portion of the public accounts are
audited, and that it is entirely i'm
possible for the AuditOr-General to
audit the accounts of the different ac-
countants of the Government, which
accounts, we have found in many in
stances, are sadly in need of audit
ing and supervision.
This bill seeks to have the Auditor
General audit all accounts of the Gov
eminent, but gives him the general
supervision Of all the bookkeeping OF
the Government, allowing him dep
uty and other assistants, for the thor
Ough auditing of all books of the diff
ferent bureaus and offices of the Gov
eminent, not only in Honolulu, but in
the other districts of the Islands as
well, requiring him ITO draw warrants
on the Treasury for every expense OF
the Government, excepting for the re
demption Of bonds of the National
Debt, interest on coupons OF the same,
interest ON overdue warrants, speclal
deposits and expenses of the Leglsla-
ture, which expenses however, he IS
required to audit and record as we'll
as very other receipt or disbursement
made to. by or through the Public
Treasury.
eve believe, if the Government ac-
counts are ITO be audited, at all, they
should be done so in the most thor
oug,h manner and that all and every
account, both receipt and expense,
should be audited by the Auditor-Gen-
eral or his deputy and that great I'M
movement and saving Of expense can
he obtained by the Auditor-General
having the general oversight OF the
books of the different accountants ol
the Government, and placing them on
one general system.
1--WE do therefore recommend that
the bill pass with the following
amendments: Then comes a long HSl
of amendments. The bill was referred
to the Printing Committee for the pur
nose of having the amendments print
ed.
| Rep. Robertson presented petition
| from the wholesale liquor houses O
| r. Hoffschlaeger e Co. and LOVeJO1
| e, Co. asking for an appropriation o
S1111.42 to reimburse thm for thell
! claim of an amount eXacted Of them o!
! the Custom House authorities over ant
above the regular duties less the val
ues on certain wines imported into the
| country by the above firms not Ions
ago.
The petition was presented to the
Finance Committee for consideration
Rep. Pogue reported for the specIa
committee to who was referred Hous'
Bill So. relating to an electric railwa!
in the city of Honolulu. The commit
tee reported long and careful consider
alton Of the bill and recommended ina
it pass with certain regulations whlcl
we're submitted with the report. h'
committee referred particularly to al
| examination of the names Of the pro
nosed stockholders in the concern an(
| had found there the names OF mel
who were residents of the Islands thu
u rlyuT