The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-24
SUGGESTIONS OFFERED
BY THE GOVERNOR
Lcontinued fron page orel.

II is obvious that 10 one would be able
TO perform the duties Of this position
as thoroughly without pay as IL bis
time and Efforts were reasonably COM
penEated-
I recon- mend that the beginning Of
the first biennial period Of the Terri
tory be set for the first day Of July.
1901. and that appropriations be made
accordingly. My reasons for this are:
First-the financial year of the govern
ment OF the United States begins On the
FIRST day OF July Of each year, under
which rule our former practice f be-
ginning the financial period on the first
day OF January. would. IL continued.
be extremely inconvenient and insult
able for several reasons. particularly
IN the matter OF statistics. and official
reports 10 the Federal Government:
second-lt would for obvious reasons
be an Improvement in our system TO
have our financial period follow the bF-
ennial appropriations instead of Begin
ming several months before their pas
sage. as heretofore.
Such an arrangement was evidently
contemplated by Congress in enact
ing section 50 OF the Territorial Act.
as appears by the words which refer to
the regular sessions OF the Legisla-
ture as preceding the biennial periods
for which they make appropriations
The loss Of the tariff and postal reve-
nues incident to annexation. has been
serious shock TO our financial condi-
ton In the period OF 1895 and 1899
the revenue from these sources was
1888 1871 and the expenses $50. 270-
%
This reduction OF revenues makes II
necessary that A considerable sum Of
money should be borrowed for public
In1 Droyero~-ts
The r-i,5s-- on the financial redifre-
ments for the coming period, contain
statements Of estimates of the Govern
ment income for 1901 both by the
Treasurer and the Auditor-the total
estimate Of the former being 81 314.-
600. and that OF the latter. s2175.55e.
These estimates assure the government
sufficient funds for the satisfactory con-
duct Of the affairs Of the Territory. ex-
cepting in the matter of public i'm
proyements unless some unforeseen
public misfortune should occur call
ing for large expenditures.
As the authority OF the Territory to
~ subject 10 the approval OF t,lp Presi-
dent II is desirable tina. 'Ae Legislature
should study the question of increasing
the current revenues by methods which
will distribute the burden OF taxation
as fairly as possible and gradually re-
duce the necessity OF borrowing money
for public Improvements.
The present public debt. not includ-
fNHr- 4 IL. 81
Bank Of the Republic of Hawaii. which
have been assumed and paid by the
United States. Is s41s5. 400. The Unit
ed States have still to pay ss.235. 429.-
GO. leaving as the public debt of the
Territory 1886, 970.31.
The provision OF the Territorial Act.
section 50. relating to loans. limits the
amount OF Indebtedness that may be in
CURED In any one year by the Terri
Tory. 10 one per centum upon the as.
sessed value Of the taxable property OF
The Territory as shown by the last gem
eral assessment The assessment for
the year 1900 showed 4 total valuation
~ s97 .A9l .5s4: consequently tho ~
dehtedness that may he incurred In the
first year OF the next biennial rfriod is
S974915Sf and the same amount or
loan suggested in the Estimates is 81. =.
$4,000, one-half of which may be in
CURED In each year of the coming Pc
Rod.
The report OF the Treasurer shows
that the sum of sT99. 600 has been adj
vanced 10 loan accounts from current
funds since the legislative session NJ
1898. The Estimates provide for the
return of this amount 10 the current ac-
count and its appropriation as current
funds. Although this course is not ali
solutely necessary. yet II is very desir-
able that ii should be followed for
this reason: very large part of the
revenues are received from taxes on
property during the latter part of Oc-
tober and the first two weeks of No
vemher. With our present surplus and
the monthly revenues from other
sources the Government will be out of
funds, as shown by the Treasurer. SOW
eral months before property taxes are
collected. unless the return to the cur
rem. account Of loan advances as above
suggested. be adopted.
l recommend the passage OF a Joan
act for n larger amount than at pres
ent required. under which the Legisla-
ture at each session may appropriate
funds as may be required. thus cbyiat-
ing the pecessity Of passing new loan
bin AT each session. Such course was
adopted by the Legislature OF 1896 and
has been satisfactory.
In connection with efforts for the
suppression OF the bubonie plague.
which was epidemic in Honolulu dur
ing the winter of 1899 and 1900.
number OF buildings and other prop
erty were destroyed by the Board uf
Health. and larger number If build
ings and a greater amount of other
property was destroyed by the great
fire Of January 10th. 1900. which was
the accidental result of fire started
by the Board OF Health as a measure
for the suppression Of the plague. BY
this disaster large number OF people
were rendered homeless and suffered
serious loss OF property.
In response TO a suggestion OF the
Executive Council. the following tele
gram was received from the Secretary
OF State: The President approves the
appointment OF the Court of Claims 10
consider losses caused by the burning
OF Chinatown and TO mske awards and
judgment on snch losses 10 be paid out
az appropriations made by the Coun-
cil'cf State in conformity with the Ha-
waiian law" Such a court was an
pointed on the second day Of April.
1900, and principles and rules estab-
lished for its government. The court
began operations at once, but the Coun-
ell OF State. upon. being called tosether. /
refused to appropriate funds for the
expenses Of such court on account OF
4 disagreement OF the Council with the /
PRINCIPLES and rules for the govern /
ment OF the court adopted by the Ex-
ecutive Council. The court thereupon