The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-10-27

not hypercritical or carping in our as
4 sertions.
We learn from newspaper reports
that you do not intend to borrow I'M
to the full amount of the loan money
which was appropriated by Act vi. of
the special session of the last Legisla- :
ture. because OF the necessity there is
for economy. III this course we feel
sure that you will have the support of
all citizens who have the best inter-
ests of the Territory at heart. IL they
will give the matter the thoughtfui
consideration which it deserves from
its Importance. Undoubtedly, much of
the work for which money was appro-
priated in that Act should be county
work pure and simple-after the means
have been placed at their disposal.
Bet at present, in your reported se-
lection of items from this appropria-
tion. for which you do intend to bor-
row money we must take issue with
you as to their relative Importance to
the Territory; and to understand
thoroughly our point of view you must
realize that 1t is our honest convic-
tion that Oahu County now gets more
than its just share of the taxes. For
| instance, we can not see why Oahu
should get half of the income tax paid
by plantations on this island. just be-
cause they happen to have an agent in
Honolulu. The property and personal
taxes might with equal justice be di-
verted to the use of Oahu County
| Because of this unjust diversion of the
! income tax we feel that. 1t is manifest
| ly unfair to give Oahu all the benefit
of the borrowed money because its
| needs are Territorial-the inference be-
ing. of course, that our needs are all
local. We claim that the Hilo High
School building, the sewer extension,
and the completion of the Volcano and
other roads, not to mention other needs
at present. are as much Territorial es-
sentials under present conditions as the
Honolulu wharves, of which we en-
dorse the Territorial need; or the Ho-
nolulu Water Works Especially refer
ring to Pauoa), the Territorial need of
which we dispute.
The Hilo High School is decidedly a
Territorial necessity. The school sys-
tenn is 1--WE believe, rightly under Ter
ritorial care. The providing of ade-
quate school accommodation, there
fore, is a Territorial duty A high
school and its necessary buildings is
due the population of this island, for
many people are now compelled to
make great personal sacrifices to keep
their children attending school in Ho-
nolulu. This will not be necessary
(and should not be necessary If we
can induce you to see the conditions as
We do. This need can not be logically
disputed.
The Hilo sewer extension is also a
Territorial necessity as well as a very
pressing local one. 1t Is absolutely
essential for the welfare not only of
this island, but of the Territory, 10
keep clean ports of entry. A piece of
low-lying swampy land which belongs
to the Government, and the surround
ing neighborhood are serious menaces
to the health of this island. and the ex-
tension of the sewer system accord
ing to plans would take care of this
| matter in the cheapest possible way.
The danger of the land we mention lies
| in the fact that it is necessarily the
receptacle of the filth from the ad-
Joining property, and proper sewage
| conduits will have to be provided be-
fore he nuisance can be stopped. The
| sewer, too. in its present condition is
an unproductive asset Until the whole
| system is completed the portion so far
| finished can not be used. Were the
extension to be carried out, the sewer
would become source of revenue Ito
the Territory as far as we know, and
such revenue would at least help to
pay interest on the money already in
vested. Our past experience with
| disease has been very costly, and we
can not afford another siege, and it is
our immediate duty to keep a clean
port, So that disease will not readily
locate here. This desired condition
will be greatly furthered by the sani-
tation of the district we have referred
to. Until that end is accomplished
we are in constant danger.
Road extensions are largely Terri
torial matters. simply because the
counties outside Oahu have not the
means at their disposal for carrying
out the work. and such roads as the
| Volcano road, and the belt road of the
| island are very necessary for intercom-
munication, as you would readily ad-
| init had you to use them very often.
Again, until all the means are given
to us, we are entitled to Territorial as
| sistance
With regard to another appropria-
ton, that of $4,000 for a Government
building, Hilo, which happens to be in
the list of what you call General APP
propriations, we can well do without
1t for some time to come. We have
ample time to think about Government
buildings when we get our finances in
better condition than they are at pres
ent, and if you will kindly give your
attention to the other essentials we
have mentioned you will be well ad-
vised to cut out such luxuries.
Generally speaking, we think that 1t
should be the policy of your admins
tration to develop and encourage the
counties, and seeing that County Gov
ernment has apparently come to stay.
it is the duty of each citizen to do all
that is possible (and also to do without
all that is possible) to get the Terri
tory and counties on a sound financial
basis. 1t would be in line with this
idea to place the responsibility of Sc
lecting the specific purposes for county
expenditures on the separate counties;
this would include moneys for roads
and bridges on old established routes,
but should not include moneys for new
roads fnv which