The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-05
INCREASED TAXES.

With ninety appeals from the as
sessment of the Tax Office pending, and
the knowledge that there will be at
least a few of that number which will
fail of success, the outlook of the Ter
ritory for an increased revenue from
taxation is good. The consequent
eclipse of the special session talk is
better, and the fact that in all proba-
bility there will be money enough for
all necessities, and for few needs, is
best.
The assessment was fairly made, ac-
cording to the plan followed. In as
sessing the value OF real property the
assessor took the value of the near by
lands, where there had been sales, and
again when there had been personal re-
turns made by neighborS, and this val
uation was given weight in the matter
of the surrounding property. This has
resulted in an assessment which is bas-
ed on the ground of equality and
should there be seen any Partially the
condemnation must rest upon the head
of the official who permits such con-
siderations to weigh.
The fact that there are so many ap-
peals does not mean that that number
Of men alone had reason to believe that
they had been placed too high on the
assessment rolls. There are 4lany more,
but they must suffer for the results of
the imitation which has been going on,
in some parts of the city during the
past two years. There are many cases
in point, for the fact that there are
sales recorded during the past few
weeks at certain price, while the man
who adjoins has been holding his prop
erty at twice that figure, and the as
SCISSOR had made his returns upon the
estimated value to the owner is borne
out by the records. This puts the bur
den on the owner of the last purchase
for he bought and finds that he has to
meet an assessment on a figure above
the actual value.
But for one of this variety of mistake
there are dozens of the other kind,
where the man who made the purchase
has been compelled TO pay the top price
and then give up the higher taxes and
felt is we'll that his purchase set the
pace for the entire neighborhood The
close watching of sales, close inquiry
and close attention TO districts have pro
duced the returns which are now being
questioned and the result is that the
Territory will be the richer by thou
sands OF dollars by the returns from the
tax office proper.
What then must be the JOY Of the In
dependent when he finds that the hope
Of any extra session has been drowned
in a tide of prosperity. which may
mean that after all the Islands will get
much that they need despite the croak-
ings, and at the same time will be guar
anteed their Territory rights freed from
another siege of the lawmakers
There attached to the proposed issue
Of bonds, which are out of the ques-
ton now. little of deep significance, for
without an act of the Legislature, which
was not forthcoming, there could be
no use made of the rights to provide
the bonds. This is the fact, not that
there has been any defeat sustained, or
that there was any member of the Gov
eminent who has tried to do more than
he is entitled to carry through Had
the bonds been approved during the
recess of the Legislature the result
would have been the same.
The outlook then is much better for
the many who are waiting eagerly for
the declaration of the return. There
will be sufficient taxes to more than pay
all bills and perhaps to permit of some
new works, which are badly needed