The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-11-15
90

From knowledge Of the extensive
tmprL vements that lave ben made upon
the plantations during the past year and
the increased amount of general mer-
chandise purchased, conservative esti-
mate OF our trade with the mainland
would place the figures at about $2O,0O0,-
600.
with a total population of l53.727, the
amount of produce shipped and exported
shows a rate of $is2.49 per capita.
Greater harbor facilities are urgently
needed at all the ports of entry. At Ho-
nolrlu many vessels are detained far be-
You'd the number of days stipulated In
the Charter, with the consequent increas-
ed expenses. An appropriation for the
improvement Of Honolulu and Hilo har-
bors has been asked for, which l trust
will meet with your approval! ....
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.
1.-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.
inheritance tax. rates from waterworks,
rents from land. and land sales.
Taxes levied upon real and personal
property nre limited to per cent per an
mum upon the assessed value. Assess
ments, however. are made upon the basis
of actual cash value. The method OF as
sessing enterprises for profit as a whole
has made considerable increase In the
value of taxable property. In this way
the earning capacity of corporations Is
factor In increasing the amount Of
money contributed by the plantations.
IAN income tax of per cent was pass
ed by the legislature at Its first session.
1901. The validity of the law was con-
tested, but the supreme court of the Ter
ritory sustained the law. This tax will
probably produce about 100000 per an
num.
The estimated receipts, July /. 1901 to
June 30. 1902, show a total of s2,565, 500
The summary of appropriations for bien-
NAL period ending June 30. 1893. salaries
and pay rolls. totals s21i9,Sl3.5O. Current
expenses of all departments totals $685.
s30.52.
FIRE CLAIMS.
The subject of fire claims Is given
much space, and the report tells of the
conditions prevailing at the time of me
plague outbreak and the methods en-
ployed to fight the disease. The great
fire OF January 20. 1900. Is described.
Continuing. the report says:
s"TO relieve the distress occasloned by
these unfortunate events. the executive
sought to have losses determined. with
the intention of ultimate settlement and
payment. Al our poitical status was IN
transition and without legislative power.
the President of the United States was
asked to authorize the appointment of a
commission who were to hear and ad-
Judicate these claims; his sanction hav-
ing been obtained. the commission was
selected and organized, but the council
OF state, the only body at that time hav-
Ing power to appropriate money, declin-
ID to do SO: the commission then ad-
tourned without having accomplished It's
purpose. s....
THE Territorial legislature passed an
act entitled An act to provide for the
ascertainment and payment OF all claims
which may be made by persons whose
property was destroyed by fire In the
years A. d. 1899 and 1900, under orders
Of the Board Of Health which was APP
proved April 30. 1901. The commissioners
were Immediately appointed. and the re-
ception Of claims soon followed. Up to
the writing OF this report, August IS 1901.
s.0S2 claims. amounting to S2472, a5l. SO,
have been filed. The commission has the
confidence OF the community, and has
been In almost constant session since its
appointment. with the expectation that
the conclusion will be reached by the
end of the present year. These claims
vary greatly IN amount, some being for
q few dollars for the loss OF personal ef-
fects. whfle others are for many thou