Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-07-15

"On the 18th of December, 1899, foI
lowing the resolution of annexation,
TIE bubonic plague broke out with
sreat violence in Honolulu, the capital
OF the islands. II was exceedingly im
portant, not only for Hawaii but Tor
the United States as well, that this epi
dcmic be stamped out at once; that 4
lie eradicated so that 1t should gain 20
CCothold on Hawaiian soil and thus re
source of constant menace to, NE
mainland.
I'm view of that fact, the authorities
OF Hawaii proceeded to carry out the
most drastic measures for the purpose
OF stamping out the plague. As rapil
~ as a case was discovered tie prem.
iscs were fumigated, IL possible. BIZ
owing to the fact that the premises oc
cupied by those who were stricken
with the plague were largely of such a
character as to make II impossible 20
/ flGligate them and purify them IL be.
! came necessary to destroy them -
fire.
ties of the Territory. acting in accorl.
anCe with a suggestion of The officer
OF the Marine Hospital Service there,
proceeded. after due appraisement by
several of the leading builders aud
business men of the city, to destroy u O
infected property. This continued for
"a very considerable length of time,
thu most careful appraisement being
mai CT all the property so destroyed
TIE work continued for nearly four
months. During this time II became
necessary to destroy a vast amount of
properly, both buildings and merchun.
disc ard personal effects.
at became necessary to place in
quarantine camps over 500 people
and to maintain them to- iconths The
'cs'.lt WAS At the RaNuiian ''ern'
ment expended over sS07 900 for the
suppression of the plague. This prac'
tieally exhausted every dollar of cash
in the Territorial treasury. After tue
suppression of the plague. at the sGs.
gestion of the President, by act of the
Hawaiian Legislature. commission
was appointed for the purpose of nd.
Indicating the fire losses. This com.
mission was composed of well known.
competent. and trustworthy citizens ct
the Territory.
In the due course of time II con.
cluded its labors and made awards
amounting to sl,473.l73, the claims
amounting to s3.174,2S99O. There
were GAS claimants. mostly people n
humble circumstances, the avera G
claim amounting to less than s217.
Over 10000 people are interested ~
ne payment of these claims, and so
the matter now stands. The board nav.
ing adiudiCated the claims according;
to law. as suggested by the President
Hawaii finds herself unable to paw
them.
AT the time the resolution of annex
attn was passed Hawaii was recoiv.
ing about 81, 5000 annually from Gus
toms duties, postoffice receipts int"r
nal Isyenue taxes, and merchandise
or occupation tax. since declared un
constitutional by the Supreme Court ot
The United States. When the Terri }
~ first assumed responsibility for
these losses, when the President frs;
directed these methods for the eradi' n
lion Of the plague Hawaii was recciy
ing thIs large income. Soon thereaft
, or, by the passage of the enabling act
Hawaii was deprived of these sources
Of revenue, and since that time there
, has beer aid into the Treasury of tn.
, United States, net above all the cos'
of collection, nearly $2,5OO.OOO. whiyr
but for the passage of the enabling act
Hawaii would have mad with which I,
meet these losses.
She now finds herself confronted
, with the payment of one million and d
half of fire claims, practically, without
any source OF revenue from which t.
make the payment. The Government
has received from her. as ! have said
, In the period since these losses wer,
sustained. practically two and a hal
millions of dollars above all cost of col
lection. Inc expenditures were mad,
ut time when Hawaii was not Te.
, ritory of the United States, but wd,
territory belonging to the Unite,
States. when her officers were actinl
under the direction of the President o
the United States, when every act U
, those officers was the act OF the Presi
, dent OF the United States, the act o
, the Government of the United States
o Now, in an effort to meet her cur
, rent expenses since deprived of he
customs revenue, internal revenue, AM
u other revenue, Hawaii has Increase
, her rate of taxation, has passed an in
!, come tax of per cent on all income
!, above $1,000, has made every effort I,
. meet her current expenses, and yet he
n current revenues fail to meet her pres
ent outlay,and there is at present, IN
. derstand, deficit Of nearly $i0O, 900 II
the finances Of the Territory"
q New York SuIzer Spoke.