The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-07-17

Z could be sent. For this a nominal
+, charge of ten cents per copy should be
made. Lighter literature md folders
suggested also that the committee be
allowed to increase its membership as
with the broadening of the plans there
was more work and the present COM
mittee was too small. Finally upon
I motion of c. S. Wight a resolution was
passed authorizing an increase of the
joint committee when the emergency
requires, the resolution first to have
the approval of the Chamber of Com
merce.
THE MATTER OF TAXES.
Mr.. F. w. Macfarlane reported
upon the interview the directors
had had with Assessor Pratt over the
question of taxation of merchandise.
The directors contended that the in
ventory value was not the cash value.
while Pratt claimed that it was Mr.
Macfarlane also quoted an opinion by
Attorney Lewis to the effect that no
test case could be brought by the asso-
citation, but it must be by an Individual
or a corporation.
There was a lengthy discussion on
the matter, the view being taken that
the assessment was not proper at the
inventory value. 1t was stated that in
Portland forty per cent of the inventory
is taken as the cash value, while in
San Francisco it is sixty per cent.
1t was stated also that under the |
former governments a deduction of |
thirty-three and a third per cent was
allowed as a basis for the cash value,
this being taken as what a stock of
would bring at auction.
A general reorganization of the tax
system was also suggested. One mem
ber stated that he had heard it said
hat the government was taking advan-
-age of taxpayers to make the assess
nent as high as possible, and cutting
t as little as possible when complaint
s made, the merchants paying a little
more perhaps, because of a desire to
lvoid the expense of appeal 1t was
also that the time had come |
vhen the Merchants Association
hould do something. it being pointed
ut that it was better to pay upon a
Ugh rate of tax at a fair valuation,
han less upon an excessive valuation.
he whole system was wrong, it was
aid. The assessor was not to blame,
e was acting under the direct instruc-
ons of the Governor and Treasurer. {
Finally it was decided that the Mer-
hants' Association should test the
erchandise valuation and also the as
upon corporation as an
enterprise for profit" Cation, Neill
Co. was chosen as the firm to test the v
ause upon a concern as an enterprise -
T profit" and Wilder's Steamship Co.
i'll appeal from the assessment upon
e inventory value as the cash value.
The directors were authorized to
ing such other test cases as required
getting an opinion upon every phase
the question. There was much dis
ssion also of the cash value as re-
ted to inventory value, everyone
esent, taking the view that no stock
goods would bring it's inventory
lue if sold for cash, or at a forced
e
= W. Smith presided at the meeting
d the following We're present: u. W.
nth, P. r. Helm, W. W. Hall. F. ].
urch, ]. Gilman, H. F. Wichman.
w. Macfarlane, a. r. Wood, I.
bingham, E. Z. Paxton, s. I. Shaw,
L. Wight, Mr.. Wakefield, Capt.
lie, T. ]. King. a. Gartenberg. E. a.
Inerny, Mr.. Won Hamm, Mr.. Lucas.
Basch, F. L. Waldron. ]. II. Soper.
5 Andrade. a. A Montana, r. Cat