The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-29
ACHI IS AFTER
THE INCOME TAX
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
COUNTY ACT-SENATOR DICKEY
PROPOSES SOME ALTERATIONS.

At least two of the senators who are
in Honolulu have some important
amendments to propose to the county
government act. The act has been very
generally distributed now, and scores
Of people are looking over it with a
view to suggesting changes. Senator
Achi proposes to have the income tax
stricken out, while Senator Dickey has
been marking up his copy with lot Of
proposed eliminations.
Dickey is inclined to think that the
act can be pared down a good deal by
cutting out a lot of matter that is al
ready in the laws of the Territory. I'm
the first chapter he said, the bill sets
forth that the Territory shall be divid-
ed into five counties, and then 1t gives
the boundaries of the counties in detail.
The counties correspond with the judi
cial districts already established and
defined in the present laws of the Ter
ritory, and there is no need of setting
them out again Then there is a divi-
sion of the counties into districts, and
the district art set forth in the county
act the same as they appear in our
present laws. These matters might as
well be stricken out to shorten the bill.
CAS- far as l have gone in examining
the bill / am In favor of it, though
| other amendments may suggest them
| selves. For instance the bill provides
! that there shall be no change of a coun-
! ty seat unless two-thirds of the voters
! of the county favor it and that the
/ proposition is only to be submitted to
! the voters on a petition signed by Il
| majority of all the voters This last
provision should be changed to one
! third. 1t is too much to ask that a
majority petition be secured for any
| thing. If a one-third petition can be
secured that is evidence that there is
| enough desire for a change to warrant
! submitting the matter to the people
Senator Achi stated yesterday that
| he would attack the income tax prOvi-
sion in the proposed new law. ana will
! endeavor to have it stricken out. The
income tax law passed by the last leg
islature has been incorporated bodily
into the county act, without any chan
, geS except such as are necessary to
make it apply to the county govern
ments. Corporations and individuals
! doing business in more than one COun-
ty are required to make return in
each.
One of Achfs complaints against the
act is that it requires each corporation
and Individual to file a sworn state
ment of income and expenditures under
oath, and this is impossible in many
cases, it is claimed. Last time made
a statement and swore to it because
had to, but l know that l swore TO
things that were not so, because can
not tell absolutely. All l could do was
make it as near correct as l could and
then swear to it," said the senator.
Senator Achi remarked that he would
try to have the income tax stricken
out. In this he has the support of some
Others as there is some sentiment
against the tax. Dickey is the author
of the act and will fight to retain it,
! He expressed himself, however, as will
ing to consent to an amendment allow
ing return to be a sworn to as not alb
solute truth, but the best knowledge
and belief"