The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-25
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Senate on Saturday afternoon and
thereby became public property. 1t is
a document of some length, but not of
unreasonable length. 1t is dignified in
tone broad in scope and touches upon
most of the pressing needs of the Ter
ritory. AS to the first message to the
Territorial Legislature, and as the first
message of the twentieth century, 1t
will be historical. Later gubernatorial
messages like Kings or Queens speech
es or Presidential messages are too
much an every day affair to attract
much notice. But Governor Dole's mes
sage marks an epoch in the history of
the evolution of the Hawaiian Islands,
and it is worthy of the position it will
fill. 1t is a calm and judicial exposition
of matters as they stand in the Terri
tory, and shows the main points which
need legislative action. Whatever par
ty a man may be of, he cannot deny
that most, if not all of the main needs
of the Territory are touched upon by
the Governor in his message.
The most important question, that of
in the message. We have lost biennial
revenue amounting 50, 1893 1879 which it
cost 1891, 270.22 to collect, therefore we
are practically 81 100000 behind an
nually. We have to seek new sources
of income, meantime what can we do to
carry on public improvements? What
ever new sources of revenue may be
1
to become available, and time to see
whether they prove as lucrative as their
propOsers think, Tor taxes in theory and
taxes in practice are two very different
things. Sometimes a tax yields far
more than it was expected to, and again
it yields a great deal less than it was
expected. and there have been instances
of taxes where the return was less than
the cost of collection.
The Governor suggests meeting this
difficulty by means of loan. The
amount of loan the Territory can con-
tract is limited by law, practically it is
about 100000 annually up to a stated
period of years. This is a suggestion.
What the financial policy of the Lee
gislature may be has not yet been de-
veloped Large expenditures are in
contemplation for public improve ments
and no doubt there is plan to meet
them, whether the scheme includes
loan is not yet announced
The question of the fire claims which
occurred through the bubonic plague,
receives considerable attention. The
Governors advice upon the matter is
conservative. That there should be
compensation, he with every fair
thinking man agrees. That there should
be care in the distribution of compen-
sation he advises. That all should
bear their share of the expenditure and
loss OF that time, is true, but those who
suffered should bear their share as
much as others. Moreover there were
certainly some who, by their own ne
ghgence, fostered conditions which
made their dwellings an easy prey to
disease, and there were large estates
which permittd such dwellings, to exist
upon their holdings. 1t is certain that
such can have small, if any claim for
compensation. AS was stated in The
Star some days ago, there must be a
thorough investigation and sorting out
of claims, and the members of the le-
gislature thoroughly understand such
a situation.
Referring to health the Governor
speaks of the water supply and the
sewerage of the city of Honolulu. If
we have municipal form of govern
ment, these questions will not come be-
fore the Legislature. The same will be
true of the Hospitals, and yet the Hos
pltals will be in a large measure not
confined in their usefulness to the mu-
nicipality, but will be of benefit for
the whole Territory.
Before entering upon these details If
VIII be wise for the Legislature to deal
with county and municipal legislation.
1t Will clear the ground as it were. The
Governor suggests a general act under
winch any municipality could be or
ganized. This is the tendency Of action
on the mainland, and is good advice,
but municipality makers are not ant
10 listen to it. In this we will work ont
our own salvation as the years go
along. The time will come when we
Shall wish we had a general act, but
that time is not yet.
No more important question could be
brought before the Legislature than re-
foresting and decreasing. 1t is a mat
ter vital to the interests of the group
1t has occupied the attention of our
reading thinkers again and again and
has been discussed at length in the
local press. The Federal government Is
prepared to dc its share and is going to
DO its share in this direction but the |
local legislature must find funds for the
work if it is to be carried to fruition.
The reapportionment of the member
snip in Senate and House is called
FOR by the Territorial act and the Gov
ernors message calls attention to il.
But the position Of the Territory is uni
lue' On the mainland it is easy to re-
Al n Ia.a -.