The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-14
TO SHIFT THE TAX
CONTINUED from page one.l

motion that a special meeting of the
Chamber be held two weeks from to-
day to consider the report.
Mr.. Swanzy said that three years ago
we had an epidemic of plague. In the
emergency requiring large expenditure
the merchants submitted to a tax Of
10 cents a ton on all merchandise
brought in here. In this way the eX-
traordinay expenses incurred We're met
and the liabilities were paid off. Then
the tax was reduced to ten cents a
ton. This tax was levied for the spe-
cific purpose of keeping the town clean
and free from contagious disease and
epidemic This report proposes to
switch that tax for an entirely diff
ferent purpose. If the community
can press the flattering JUNCTION to it's
soul that there is no further danger of
plague or other contagious disease or
epidemic, then the tax ought to be
taken off altogether. While conditions
were no doubt on the whole pretty good
still there certainly could be no justt-
fed feeling of security. This is
I heterogeneous population. Some ele-
ments We're provOkingly careless of
hygiene and sanitary laws. There was
| necessity for the greatest vigilance.
This could only be done by thorough
| inspection. This required much money
was unable to keep up the requisite
| inspection. The Chamber of Commerce
wanted many things done in this direc-
ton which the regular governmental
machinery could not do.
Therefore, Mr.. Swanzy continued,
unless we have assurances that we
shall never have any more epidemic, or
that the government will always be
! able to do the things we want done, it
! seems to me we ought to provide the
| means for adequate inspection and
! other preventive measures If it were
! not necessary to provide these funds
! for this purpose, then the tax ought to
| be taken off altogether. 1t was levied
and submitted for a specific purpose
! and could not be shifted to another
and totally different purpose, however
! important that new purpose might be.
| The tax must be abolished and a new
one of the same kind and of the same
amount me levied for the new purpose
! Il it is so desired. But the present
| tax cannot be shifted from its present
! purpose to any other And important
as the tourist matter may be, the free
dom of the city from epidemic is much
! more important. Tourists will not
come if we have plague or other epide-
mic.
A motion to lay Mr.. Schaefer's mo-
! ton on the table was lost and then his
motion carried.
Several communications in regard to
advertising We're referred to the spe-
| cial meeting to be held in two weeks
Mr.. Schaefer reported that the COM
mittee on memorial to congress in the
matter Of the Senate Commissions re-
port on public lands, had drafted a
| memorial which was now being put in
shape and would be sent by the next
mail The committee on memorial to
Congress in the matter of the leper re-
commentator asked for further time
AS soon as these two committees are
ready special meeting of the chamber
| Will be called to consider them
Letters from w. c. Weldon, and con-
gratulatory cables to the Chamber and
the replies sent We're read and placed
on file.
On motion of f. j. Lowrey f. w.
Mactarlane was appointed a committee
to report at the tourist meeting two
weeks ''ence on the exact status of the
ten cents ton tax on merchandise.