The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-12-20
WEATHER YESTERDAY.
CITY TAXES NOT A sueAeoo.

CITY TAXES NOT A sUGAeoo.
The Morning Organ which speaks
for the family compact and the Thurs
ton Office holders has a great deal TO
say about the increased taxes that
would be incurred by the adoption If
municipal government for Honolulu.
IL takes care TO avoid any reference
TO some OF the many expensive luz
nries OF the present system OF govern.
ment which would very properly be
abolished by the adoption OF municipal
and county government throughout
Hawaii. 1t is continually pointing out
how homeseekers would be frightened
away by the burden OF municipal tax
alton. To read its vaporings, one
might we'll wonder how Il came about
that any Of the western cities of the
United States ever grew and pros
pered under the burden of state. coun-
~ and municipal taxation. They did
grow. however. and the subject e
city taxes has never seemed to be
much of factor in preventing the i'd
vent OF homeseekers in all the towns
OF the west.
Take Los Angeles. California, for
instance. That Guy had a population
OF $4,000 inhabitants In 1890. In June
last II had a poulat;on OF I03. 900.
People there pay state taxes. county
taxes and city taxes. and the latter
have been rather heavy owing to the
rapid growth of the city and the need
OF large sums for paving and street
improvements. for adding to the fire
department, commensurate with the
city's growth. and for additions to the
police force. Yet no one has heard
that high city taxes has prevented
home seekers from taking up their
abode In Los Angeles. They keep
coming right along just as though
there were no city taxes at all. and
no city government as in Honolulu.
Portland. Oregon. is another city
where the people are robbed to pay
municipal taxes. They pay taxes 10
the state of Oregon, TO the county OF
Muitnomah and to the city of Port
land yet Portland increased her popu-
lation from $4,000 in 1890 TO 10000
in 1900. The city has been prosper
ing wonderfully the last ten years
and high taxes for the support OF n
municipal government for the city
have had no terrors for the home seek
ers who have taken up their residence
there.
Seattle. Washington is another
western city where the burden of
municipal taxes have failed to act as
bug-a-boo 10 the intending home seek
or. The population of Seattle IN
1890 was less than $4,000 while il was
almost $1,000 in June last. Local
taxes are rather high in Seattle too
because of the hilly land on which the
city is built and the expense of street
Improvement but no one has hesitated
about making homes there because of
that fact nor have the people hesitat-
ed 10 support the officials in doing
whatever was necessary for the ad-
7ancement OF the city. Her people
believe in progress and advancement
They believe that any thing that will
work to the good of the city should be
encouraged and sustained no matter
what the cost. They do not sit down
and deery all public improvements
and innovations, The citizen who
does do that in Seattle very soon finds
himself in such a lonesome condition
that II Is better TO move on than re-
main and try to block the wheels o.
progress.
The fact is II Honolulu ever wants
90 be attractive 20 homeseekers. II the
city hopes TO grow and to become the
commercial port that her position en-
titles her TO. she must adopt modern
American city government American
immigrants of the sort Honolulu and
Hawaii most desire are not going 70
come here TO seek homes il they are
denied home rule. II is contrary TO
American customs and American laws
and they viii not settle in such A
place We must show to the world
that with annexation we became Am
sricanired and that city government.
rs one Of the boons Of American con.
ditions. has come with annexation.
Unfortunately Honolulu has a few
conservatives. mossbacks as they are
generally known in progressive com.
munities. who oppose municipal and
county government just as they ap-
pose the influx of American citizens.
They are not many however and their
bark Is much worse than their bite.
They win be so relegated into oheurtt;
By the progressive people a the con-