The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-28

sanitary arrangements The citizeIs OF
Kauai. Maui. Lanai ard Hawaii
should rot be called on 10 pay . pro
rata expense in this connection zny
more than 20 the expense Of uaiuts-
nance Of q hand which Is used priuei-
pzIIy TO blow OF passengers on steam
e-s and at birthday anniversaries Of
government ct5cials- Affairs oo this
I island today are decidedly un-AmerI-
| can and the members Of the Dole min
I iStrT aud the council OF state miugle
/ in harmony and chuckle over Hilo's
/ discontinue IL Is to correct such evil
as this failure TO appropriate that
| causes the Hilo resident 20 cry out for
reform and demand more equitable
distribution oE public money for pub
/ lie Improvements Such distribution
may be had only By establishing Local
self government and no man should
| be sent TO the legislature from this
/ Island Who does not first pledge him
self 10 support the measure
All this bodies evil for Oahu and
Honolulu and no good to the Territory.
II means organized antagonism to the
capital. the result Of illegal unfair and
un-American methods by the existing
government Honolulu is no longer
all OF Hawaii" II is so only proper
tionateiy. upon a fair basis, unless it
will organize itself into q municipality
and assess itself and pay taxes upon
such assessment for the payment OF its
special Improvements and uses. This
is Americanism and it will have to be
accepted. whether profitable or not pal
atable Speaking OF assessments in
Hawaii the Tribune joins in the gen
eral chorus of abuse of existing con-
| ditions. II says:
Ii would seem from the evidence
| brought out in this case that the local
| tax assessor has about as much author
| ity in. the matter as a clerk in a gro
cery store has in fixing the price of
| deyiled ham. He has as much as ad-
mitted TO the manager OF the planta-
ton which appealed that the valuat ton
/ placed was too high. but said he
couldn't reduce it without permission
from Honolulu. Ii would seem in
other words that Honolulu not only
claims full power over the expenditure
OF. our taxes but full discretion in levy
ing the0; method doubtless calcu-
lated to save our local officials the
wear and strain of personal response
bility, but badly calculated to meet the
L.. zF he -ay ~ nj
he happens TO be like the lucky man in
lottery and draw low assessment.
God moves in a mysterious way his
wonders to perform" but in this re-
spect he has much to learn from a
Honolulu board of equalization (?).
These are not matters of light mo-
ment They are serious; they are an
tagonistic to American Institutions;
they are primary in their effect and
being illegal, because un-American.
cannot continue to exist.
Ii should be remembered by the peo-
pie OF Hawaii that even its harbors
no longer belong to them. They are
the property and the special charge OF
the United States government. The
Territorial government has no longer
control of it. Honolulu cannot make
a local improvement nor encroach up
on United States prerogatives in the
harbor or on reservations than can any
private citizen The Territory is
charged with a pro rata distribution
of power, both political and financial.
II can give no community a greater pro
rata appropriation than another; il
must WELD an even hand. This means
than inter-insular improvements by a
general central government is inexpe-
dent, if not impossible. Counties must
be set aside and municipalities, which
must be organized under wise rules and
regulations. be permitted to elect their
own officers and enjoy the privilege OF
expending their own proportion OF
public moneys. 1t will probably be diff
ficult for the members of the pre- sent
seml-monarchical government to let &c
and relinquish their entire and al par
emily everlasting hold upon the teat
4 they have been so industriously and
enrichingly flor themselves milking
but it is so written in the stars" and
in the constitution of the United Suites