The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-04-06
General Plet Cronje.

fJUb,UVU WAS intended Tor the district
complained Of
Mr.. Damon said me Executive Coun-
oil had gone about as far as possible in
making up It's estimates for appropria-
tions under the present conditions, on
account OF the possibility OF losing
some OF the revenue when the Federal
Government took charge OF the Custom
house and postofiice. No more taxes
could be imposed until the meeting OF
the next Legislature, and he felt that
!, would be practically two years before
any new taxes could be collected. No
Legislature at present could issue new
bonds of the country. In fact" Said
ne, "in looking over the situation,
tnd We are approprating just as close
20 The line as possible"
Gear: what are the estimated re-
ueipts OF the Government"
Damon: Leaving out the Custom
house, | estimate that the internal rev.
euues Will approximate S3693, 900. The
expenditures of the Board of Health
have so cut into our surplus and have
I broken up my plans and other peoples
( plans, that we must be careful. | don't
! wish TO criticise the Board of Health,
as 1t has been tho people generally that
! have spent this money. Leaving out
I >
there has been over 100000 actual cash
paid out for the Board of Health ex-
penses. The running expenses of the
Board are estimated at $999.33 per day.
| When ! ask you to consider these mat
ters, do II in good faith, because
know that we have very unpleasant
! interregnum TO pass over between the
end OF the Republic of Hawaii and the
establishment of the Territory Of Ha-
wall"
| Gear: II have found out that the in
crease in the receipts of the Govern
ment in the last four years has been
in proportion to the increase of 1897 to
| 1898, or 70 per cent. And the Increase
of 1873 and 1899 over 1897 10 1898 was
| 1876 per cent, and on the same basis the
income of the Custom house would be
! Sli 900, 900 | know that In many cases
property has increased from 100 per
cent to 1000 per cent In value. If the
Nicaragua canal is inaugurated there
is certainly going to be an increase in
the prosperity of the country and In
valuations. | may be optimistic. |
know, of course, that we have to figure
on actual facts; at the same time II the
money Is not ON hand 1t cannot be
used. III II Is. we ought TO appropriate
1t. l believe that good roads have the
most tendency to Increase valuations.
If one-half the amount we are appro-
priating Is spent on the roads, believe
| 25 per cent of that will come back the
first year In taxes. There Is no better
investment for the Government to
make"
Damon's Talk on Finance.
Il think Mr.. Gear was perfectly right
when he said we must deal with actual
facts. l have noticed In my business of
banking, where We watch the ebb and
flow OF business. that we have been
passing through a very critical time
in the past few months. Money has
| been In great demand. But the coun-
| try is rich country and the people all
the way through-l might say of all
classes-are well on. That is, we have
| a very few OF what are called poor peo-
pie. They have their funds In the
banks. the savings banks. and they
nave been able to meet this strlngency
far better than / anticipated. In the
matter of loans made year ago they
are very gradually meeting them.
think we have turned the corner and
are on new and better basis than we
with the very best of feelings toward
the Council, that We are not prepared
to go ahead as fast as we did year
ago. think they have grown more
cautious because they have been in a
very tight pinch, Mr.. President. but
there has been no panic here such as
people would have passed through In
other cities. Now. having passed
through that tight pinch, they are GO
ing to be more careful in the future.
When we make these estimates, we
are to a certain extent responsible to
Jhe treasury. The people look at the
Treasury Department and 1t has n re-
assuring effect on the community when
they find there Is reserve there. Not
only Ia this true In this country but in
all countries. II is my duty to put this
matter before you, Mr. President, and
to the Council of State with caution.
1--WE are placed in this position:
These bills have 20 go TO President Me-
kinley for his approval. That Ia a Sc
rious matter, II We go TO him with a