The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-04-05
THE pASTEpOT BILL.

We have In previous issues shown
how absolutely the proposed legislation
establishing local government ig-
nores and defies the plainest provisions
of the Organic Act, and have pointed
out the process by which II was evoiv-
ed. A more detailed study Of Its pro-
visions only brings to light additional
evidence OF the correctness OF what We
have already said. Take for instance
Section GO from the Chapter headed
TOWNS"
mo debt or liability due to or from
any town Incorporated under the laws
OF the State OF Nebraska, extended
over this Territory, shall be unpaid by
reason OF such town being brought
within the provisions OF this Act, and
becoming incorporated under II; pro-
vided, however, no Indebtedness or la
bility created by any provisional city
or town government shall be recognized
or paid, except as specially provided
by law"
viii some OF the people who are
shouting, Pass the County Government
Act and pass II at once" be good
enough to tell US when. where and by
whom the laws OF the State OF Nebras-
ka were extended over this Territory,
and when they have successfully an
swered that Question VIII they go on
and tell us what the language OF this
Section means anyway? Even If the
laws OF Nebraska had been extended
over this Territory. the provision about
debts and Liabilities due TO OR FROM
any town not being UNPAID by rea-
son of such town being brought within
the provisions OF this Act, etc, would
still be and remain utter nonsense.
Again, Will some one tell us what il
meant in the above Section by the
words amy provisional city or town
government" When and where with
in the limits now embraced In the Ter
ritory OF Hawaii are there now or have
there ever been provisional or any
other kind of city or town govern
ments? We pause for "A reply.
Suppose the cry, Pass the County
Government Act ana pass 1t at once"
should prevail and the bill be passed
in its present form and signed by the
Governor, or perchance be passed over
his veto. what Will be the practical ef-
feet of Section So? Please tell us.
The bill as introduced and printed
fairly teens with things scarcely less
preposterous and unlntellEent than the
above We viii return to the subject
on another occasion. Let us mention
one or two matters OF different kind.
We called attention on Saturday to the
provision of the Organic Act limiting
the Indebtedness of any subdivision of
the Territory to three per cent OF the
assessed value Of the property there
In, but the Home Rule program relat-
ing TO such matters permits cities to
incur Indebtedness as high as TWEEN
TY PER CENT Of their assessed vaua-
ton. And Humphreys cXclalms: pass
the County Government Act and pass
It at once"
Again, the inhabitants Of the Terri
tory are now paying n tax OF one per
cent on all property, real and personal
and this is to cover all public ex-
penses, local as well as general, con-
nected with the government of the Ter
ritory. There IL absolutely no other
property tax whatever Let the tax
payers now take notice that under the
proposed law the taxes in cities may
be as high as four per cent, EXCLU-
SIVE OF SCHOOL TAX. Such are the
proposals of the men who have been
complaining that the present rate OF
public expenditure is excessive, that
the money wrung from the people IL
recklessly y not corruptly expended,
and that local government, county and
municipal. is the sure and only cure;
the only way TO reduce expenses light
en- public burdens and make everybody
happy At the rate OF four per cent
!, Honolulu win pay more taxes than are
now collected for the whole Territory,
:. Honolulu itself included.
pass the County Government Act
and pass II at once"