The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-05-02
HANDLING THE HOME BUDGET
Valuable Public Properties Pro
The Oahu Railway.


IGSdVoTInS 10 Dulld up his broken he3lCu
writes us as follows:
Probably the most unique thing
about these islands and their govern
ment next to the almost heavenly eli
mate is the condition of the public
finances. Not city, district, school
district or any other municipal SUBJ
division owes a dollar. Here is the
spectacle of elaborate school systems,
water works, wharves, sewerage, fire
department, electric light plants and all
other improvements we are familiar
with in the United States, as we'll as
splendid public buildings of every kind
and costly public roads across and
around the various mountainous ISL
ands, and not a dollar in bonds, war
rants or other evidences of debt out
standing against municipalities or what
corresponds to our counties All OF
these expenditures have been made out
of the treasury of the government and
a vast amount of the outlay has been
met in cash as soon as the vouchers
were approved, by taxation. The entire
Hawaiian government debt probably
half of which is chargeable to the per-
Sonal extravaganza of one or two Of the
last monarchial rulers) is only little
over 100000. OF this about So, $4,000
is in per cent. bonds and the balance
in fives. This debt is to be retired at
once when annexation is completed by
Uncle Sam, and he will find a COM
Portable asset in the way of government
property of all kinds estimated to be
worth not less than 100000 600. How
ever, an issue of $25O,0 900 five per cent.
bonds is to be made under the auspices
OF the provisional government, or rath
er the Republic of Hawaii April 1st
for harbor improvements, sewerage,
ETC., the old systems having been en-
tirely outgrown by the wonderful in
crease of the past few years in ocean
commerce, population, etc. So the Ter
ritOry OF Hawaii will start out without
a dollar of debt against any subdivision
or portion of it, but this $25O,000 Of
bonds which will probably be retired
in two or three years, and will be
equipped With superb capitol, executive,
postoffice and court buildings, insane
asylum, penitentiary, 195 public schools
and all the other public Improvements
suggested by the above brief outline.
The assessed valuation in 1898 was
S53 49, 1884, of course emitting the gov
eminent property above noted. The
basis of assessment is the cash value Of
property at forced sale which would
probably be about % per cent. of the
real value And this still gives only an
approximate idea of the real value for
the reason that the many large sugar
plantations and other heavy corpora
ton interests, running far up into the
millions escape with an insignificant
assessment. The valuation has in
creased steadily for the past ten years.
There is one general tax of ten mills
levied to meet all expense, except that
a poll tax of 81, and road and school
tax of 50 each per head are levied on
all male inhaitants over p years Of
age There were 40, $50 such persons on
the islands last year producing re-
venue of about $3.50, 900. OF other taxes
there were collected 1854, 1923, making a
total revenue from internal taxes OF
about $7S5,000. 1t is hardly necessary
to say that this could easily be doubled
no q hl1r prl-S n
taxation we people of the United States
are accustomed to. The more l lOoh
into the recent history of these people,
their government and the management
of their fiscal affairs the more
| doubt the ability of the United States
to furnish better government than
has been enjoyed here since the over
throw of the monarchy. We are not
unlikely to forget that there is such a
thing as pure patriotism and a strict
devotion to the best interests of all
the people-or, to express it differently, |
1 government absolutely devoid OF
l believe if there is a
faithful illustration of it anywhere it |
S right here in our latest acquisition. |
President Dole and his co-workers have |
% this extent at least been patriots |
and to this they have added a degree |
IF skill in the business management Of |
1t times a most trying trust that COM |
Dares we'll with the best work of a far
more pretentious government.
1.-The growth of the entire region is |
very noticeable. This is especially the
,ase in the matter Of sugar and coffee |
planting. Millions are raised here in |