The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-02
SAN FRANCISCO
TO OUR AID
Continued trom page nveO

However the late Legislature having
regard for conditions and desiring to
do everything possible to relieve the
distress to claimants arising from loss
cs incurred i'm the destruction of their
property under the orders of The Board
of Health, passed an Act creating a
Fire GAINS Commission FOR the as
certainment and payment of all claims
made by persons whose property was
destroyed by fire in the years 1899 and
1900 under orders of the Board of
Health" and by this Act appropriated
$l,5UOOO0 or so much thereof as might
be necessary out of the general reven-
ues of the Territory of Hawaii, to be
distributed over a period of three years
at rate not exceeding 100000 per
year, all awards and judgments to be
final and paid pro rata.
The legislature knowing that the
revenues of the Territory would be re-
duCed by the amount formerly received
from customs revenues and postal re-
CeiptS, although extraordinary eXpend-
lures had been incurred and had to be
provided for, to satisfy impOrtunate
claimants passed the Income Tax Law,
levying a tax of two per cent (2c,D per
annum on all incomes in excess of one
thousand dollars thereby adding con-
siderdbly to the general revenues, and
which amounted last year to $3.50, 600
The effect of this Act is felt by the in
creased burden of taxation upon all
business callings and commercial en-
terprises but nevertheless has been
paid with promptness.
The legislature also at the time of
making me appropriation Of 81 900, 600
to pay the Fire Claims awards memo
rallied Congress asking that relief be
granted to the Territory as might be
found proper under the circumstances.
Unfortunately, the memorial, though
passed and signed ythe officials of
both houses failed to reach the Cover
nor in time for signing and did not ac-
Complish its purpose. On May 9th,
1901, the members of the Fire Claims
Commission organized for business. All
persons having claims for losses were
required to present the same under APP
proved form as to details and schedules
within four months of that date, and
within that period GAS claims, aggre-
eating $S175, 1890, covering personal
losses to nearly ten thousand indivi-
duals have been very carefully exam
ined by the Commission and adjudicat-
ed in an amount of about two million
dollars awards for which are now be-
ing entered up by the Commission in
liquidated claims against the Terri
tory.
1t is exceedingly desirable that ways
and means be devised to give the
claimants some portion or all of their
awards at as early a date as possible,
which the Territory, being without
funds is unable to do and has, through
the medium of the Chamber of Com
merce and Merchants Association, the
only organized business associations of
the Island, petitioned Congress by and
under the form Of resolutions herewith
submitted to provide means for the re-
lief of the Territory as we'll as for the
relief of many thousands made desti-
tute and impoverished through unfor-
seen and unavoidable misfortune.
Respectfully,
'(Signed) j. G.. PRATT
Representative of the Chamber of
Commerce and Merchants Associa-
ton of Honolulu, II. l., ana Mem
Der of the Fire Claims Commission
Of Hawaii.