Evening star., 1901-11-04

Report Of H. E, Cooper, the Acting
Governor.
VOLUME OF COMMERCE GRATIFYING
Recoinage and Limited Chinese
immigration Urged.
DECREASE IN THE NATIVES


In his annual report to the Secretary OF
the Interior. just made public, Acting Gov
ernor Henry E. Cooper Of Hawaii says
there has been for many years a steady
decrease In the number Of Hawaiians. AL
though there has been an increase in the
number of part Hawaiians the total of
those of Hawaiian descent still shows a
decrease. Many reasons have been as
signed for this, but the statistics show that
many Hawaiians die before maturity, and
large families are rarely found. At one
time infanticide was practiced to an alarm
ing extent, and the gregarious tendency Of
the Hawaiians has also proved detrimen-
tai. for 1t Is in the large centers where the
decrease Is the most rapid. The census of
1896 showed that there were 39.504 Ha-
waiians, while according to the census Of
1900 there were only 1869.
Coinage and Immigration.
Authority for the conversion of all Ha-
wafian silver coins into corresponding coins
of the United States, and for the immigra-
tion Of a limited number Of Chinese labor
ers, conditioned upon their engaging IN
agricultural pursuits only during their resi-
dence in the territory, and their return to
their own country upon ceasing to be
the acting governor.
Other recommendations are that an ex-
pert forester be maintained at the isl aIids
until such time as he may be able 70 make
a full report upon the conditions Of the
forests and make his recommendations for
their conservation and extension; that a
special agent of the fish commission be
stationed at Honolulu, and that proper re-
strlctive measures be put in force at an
early day to prevent the wanton destruc-
tlon of the food fishes of the territory:
that site be purchased and a fedei nj
building be erected in Honolulu for the
accommodation of the federal court, ,ost
office custom house and federal officials;
that Congress be requested to author ize
the granting of licenses to divert wattc
from lands where it is of no avail 10 arid
sections that are otherwise adapted to
agricultural purposes: that Congress au-
thorize the retention by the territory of a
sufficient amount of, the receipts of the
custom house for the payment of any
Judgment awarded by the commission on
nre claims; that Congress authorize the ap-
pointment of deputy secretary of the ter
rltory, to act during the absence or disabil-
lty of the secretary of the territory for
territorial purposes only; that regulations
be authorized so that statistics may be
available showing shipments between the
mainland and the islands. At present there
Is no adequate means Of knowing what the
trade with the islands amounts to-
The immigration to the territory for the
year ended June 30, 1901 was 7O5, of whom
$50 were Japanese, 1877 English, 81 Portu-
guese and Is German, with a scattering
from other countries. The population Of
Hawaii in 1900. exclusive of 274 persons In
the military and naval service of the United
States, was 153, 121.
A considerable portion Of the report is
devoted to public lands. Mr.. Cooper says
the distinction between crown and govern
ments lands no longer exists.
Hawalfs Commerce.
he of
the territory is, Mr.. Cooper says, very sat-
isfactory. Since June IA. 1900, when Ha-
wall became an organized territory, no en-
try has been required when either shipped
to or from the mainland. For this reason
it is not practicable to give an accurate ac-
count OF the amount of American goods
that have entered the territory. Some reg
ulatfon. or possibly an act Of Congress,
should be passed to remedy this defect, for
1t seems of great Importance to know
what becomes of American products In
1899 the imports from the United States
amounted to $15020, $50; from foreign coun-
tries, $4,038, 775, making total of $40, ,059-
6t5. or the total amount exported the
eign countries. S110,9S3.
Greater harbor facilities are urgently
needed at all the ports of entry. At Homo
lulu many vessels are detained far beyond
the number of days stipulated in the char
ter with the consequent increased ex-
penses. An appropriation for the improve
ment of Honolulu and Hilo harbors has
been asked for.
Sources of Revenue.
The principal sources of revenue are
from taxes levied upon real and personal
property, the sale of territorial internal
revenue stamps, license fees. penalties and
costs in civil and criminal actions, Inherit
ance tax. rates from waterworks rents
from land and land sales
Taxes levied upon real and personal prop
erty are limited to l per cent per annum
upon the assessed value. Assessments
however. are made upon the basis of actual
cash value. The method of assessing en-
terprises for profit as a whole has made a
considerable increase in the value of tax
able property. In this way the earning
capacity of corporations Is a factor in in
creasing the amount of money contributed
by the plantations. Formerly each item of
property belonging to an estate was as
sessed at its cash value, irrespective of its
value when combined with the other items
1t can readily be seen that the mill and
other machinery for producing sugar are
OF small comparative value as single and
detached items, but when taken as a whole
in connection with the land and other prop
erty the value is much greater.
An income tax OF per cent was passed
by the legislature at its first session 1901
The validity of the, law was contested but
the supreme court of the territory sus-
tained the law. This tax will probably pro-
duce about sJ00.O00 per annum.
IN erddlcdtlng the bubonic plague in the
winter Of 1899 expenses were incurred
amounting to $72O. 4SS.07," Mr.. Cooper saws
while the determination of the fire claims
will add another large amount to be met
out of the revenues of the territory, If no
assistance is forthcoming, 1t is suggest ed
that Congress be asked to authorize a con-
tribution toward the = payment Of these
heavy financial engagements. The reten-
ton by the territory of the income derived
from the receipts of the custom house in
the district appeals to one as a proper and
Just method of granting such relief Gus
toms duties are an indirect tax upon the
people. Why not, then, permit them to be
used in this instance for the benefit of the
people who have already paid large sums
in the suppression of the dread disease for
the common good?"
Political ConditiOns.
The first territorial election was held on
the 9th of November, 1900. resulting in an
overwhelming victory for the home rule
party; they electing their delegate to the
Fifty-sixth and Fffty-seventh Congresses,
nine OF the fifteen senators and twenty-five
representative out OF total Of thirty Be-
fore the passage of the organic act state
ments were made that the great majority
OF the native Hawaiians would not ally
themselves with either the republican or
democratic parties. but would form a party