The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-06
STRICTLY ON
BUSINESS
'Loebenstcin Visits
the Capital
City.
DENIES BEING A
JOB CHASER
Would Become Land Commis.
sioner if Offered the
Post.

n d. LOtDtHSleln OI lilo, VINO arrived
In this City on Saturday, was interview
ed at the Hawaiian Hotel yesterday
evening and expressed his views on
| things political and general.
MIR. Loebenstein wished 1t to be en-
phatically understood that he had not
come to Honolulu on Purchasing expe-
dition.
Although we knew in Hilo that an at
tempt was to be made by the Home Rul-
ers to turn down the Governors nomi-
nees, no definite news had reached
when 1 left on the Kinau, and / had no
desire or intention to attempt to secure
any office when 1 came here. 1 do not
consider any position that might be Of
fered to me worth the coming over for
certainly not from a financial standpoint.
Within an hour of my landing I was
urged by my friends to become a candi-
date for the office of Land Commissioner,
but l do not wish to become an active
candidate Tor that or any other position.
although if that position is definitely OF
fered to me ]. will accept it.
Il have been in many respects most
thankful that was fortunate enough to
escape the Senate, although of course one
or two extra men on our side might have
turned the minority into an effective ma
jority. I think, had I been elected and
had been a leader of my party, that I
should have insisted on English being
maintained throughout the session even
to the seeding of the English-speaking
Representatives into a Rump Legisla-
ture. 1 think that the measures passed
by such a body would under the existing
laws and provisions have stood as legal.
My feeling-and, I think, the feeling
of most of us on the Big Island-towards
the pitiable exhibition of incompetency
shown by the Independents generally In
the late Legislature is one of disgust.
mingled with no little pity when I re-
member the passing of so many notable
Hawaiians, giants Of their race In their
knowledge of the needs of their fellow
countrymens
"I am" continued Idr. Loebenstein.
strongly in favor of decentralization and
a county government. I do not, howev-
er, feel, looking at it from the point OF
view of a comparative outsider, that the
time is ripe for a municipal government
for Honolulu. meaning as that does. the
extra expense of a dual government, the
central and the municipal with the ex-
ira expense entailed, at time when the
Government funds are as low as they are
and the prospects for income somewhat
uncertain.
With Oahu as one county, the cry
from the outskirts that the pro rata of
taxes was not being equally distributed.
would of course arise-justly, too, con-
slider.
Although Honolulu is the capital City,
and as such should be made beautiful by
the voters of the whole Territory, there
are many outlying areas, taken up by ag-
riculturists who are unable to realize on
their lands through lack of access to
Them the pro rata disbursement that
should have come to them having been
diverted towards the larger centers.
THE County bill, aside from it's crude
ness is, l think, acceptable to us in Ha-
| waii, including the planters interests, al
though the impression is largely held to
the contrary. ,..fass
| 1.-The income tax as introduced. while
necessary measure" said Mr.. Loeben-
stein. draws. think, the line In an un-
democratic manner. / do not think that
\ an exception should be made in favor OF
| the poor man any more than that the
extremely rich should get the best of the
bargain.
Make an exemption. If you like. but
| a nominal one, as in the realty exernp-
1 ton of $500"
| Mr.. Loebenstein, commenting on the
Governors attitude on the bribery ques-
ton, was disposed to think that the po-
sition of the Executive was an unfortu-
nate one,s but that at a time like this it
was the primary duty of all Republicans
| to stand together without distinctions OF
any kind. The anti-haole feeling shown
| py tHe natives Is perhaps uot surprising
in that they should grasp their first op-
portunity of getting, in their light, even
at the first opportunity that had been
granted them in eight years, but to the
accomplishment of ends there must be
unity of purpose and feeling on our side.
/ After commenting on the wide interest
and approval shown in Hilo Of the Ad-
vertiser's excellent cartoons anent the
| Legislature, Mr.. Loebenstein spoke
shortly on the labor question in regard
! to the importation of Porto Rfcans and
negroes. The speaker did not feel that
the situation was obtaining anything but
a temporary relief from the immigration
| of this class of people, who, he claimed,
negroes and caucasians alike. would not
| long remain content to be mere laborers
and would soon leave the vacancy as
wide as ever by going in for other occu-
| pations.
Mr.. Loebenstein's suggested remedy for
| the situation is for the owners holding
! large unused areas in fee, such as Hack
| field. Davies and others, to send an agent
to agricultural centers. Offering ten.
twenty or thirty acres OF such unused
lands for lease Of say fifty years. such
lease necessitating actual residence on
tha apportioned land. These people, con-
cIuded the gentleman from Hflo, would.
on taking up their residence on these
acres surrounding the big plantations. in
order to live infallib1y be forced to ap-
ply for opportunities for labor, thus SOW
ing the riddle.