The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-03-11
COUNTY FINANCES.

There is a deeper significance per
hans than the mere desire TO pass upon
the County bill first, back Of the Sen
ate's decIination to attempt to consider
appropriations until the political sub
divisions of the Territory have been hx-
ed. and the powers and responsibilities
of the counties placed
IT has been practically decided that
there shall be two appropriation bills
one covering the salaries and expenses
until December 81, of this year, and the
other having in it the provisions for the
rest of the biennial term. The question
however. is what division shall be made
as to the improvements to be authoriz-
ed under the appropriation bill. The
fart that there Is to be in such short
time. responsibility of counties, makes
II ALI the more impossible for the car
rying out of the plans for general i'm
movements which have been brought
forward by the representatives. from
the outer districts
The superficial view. using the word
without intention to cast any reflection
I upon the Intent of the originator, IS
that which was proposed in the House
recently, that there be set aside by
the Legislature from the loan bill.
81. 900. 900 for each county, it is presum
ed, rs capital to start in life. This
looks well on paper, it might be that it
void work out well for the counties,
ass1redly ii would be case of find
ing money for the islands other than
Oahu.
On the basis of the taxpaying capaci-
ty of the various counties as made up
for consideration by the Finance Com
mittee, the resources of the various
counties We're clearly set forth in a re-
cent issue of the Advertiser. Putting
the figures into round numbers the
taxes of the whole Territory, on the
basis of last year are paid as follows:
Oahu, SO; Kauai. 9; Maui, II; East Ha-
wall, 10; West Hawaii, g. 1t viii be
then on this basis that the islands will !
contribute to the Territorial treasury, |
and from this general fund must come |
the interest and the sinking fund for
the wipfng out of the bonded debt.
1t would be only fair then that the |
counties should have a proportion of |
the bonds in the direct ratio as they
must pay back the money borrowed ON
the credit of the Territory. If this is |
done. of the 100000 of bonds, Oahu |
would receive, $3.50, 600; Kauai, $3.50,
Oeo: Maui. s55o.Ooo; East Hawaii, $780,
600; West Hawaii, 100000. The inter- |
est charge would have to be paid as
follows: s147,5Oo, Oahu; $22.500, Kauai; |
sz7,50o Maui; $s7, 500. East Hawaii; 49,
coo, West Hawaii. In other words the
County of Oahu would pay 14a1 per cent
other counties would pay: Kauai 2A |
per cent; Maui, az per cent; East Ha-
wall. az per lcent. and West Hawaii,
~ per cent.
If this is the proportion of the pay
ment for improvements there of course
pendfture, and as some of the members
are imbued with the justice of the
claim, there VIII be all the more hard
work in getting together an appropria-
ton bill There will have to be passed
to the credit of the counties some sum
ON which to begin housekeeping. 1t
must be borne in mind that there will
be less than the full years taxes from
which 10 meet all the demands upon
the Territorial treasury, and out OF
these many factors must there be
drawn the sum of the fiscal arrange
msnts. The problem is a knotty one.
ana viii try the temper as well as the
ability Of the Legislature