Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-02-24

Inc Merchants Association yester
day afternoon decided not to attemp
revision OF the tax laws at present
In force. At called meeting in III
ofices In the Young building, the As.
ISOLATION adopted the report of the com.
mittee on public affairs. stating tina,
an effort to revise tax laws at this
time Is unwise. The report, however
suggested an amendment to the pres
ent law by which merchandise busi-
nesses shall be assessed not as enter
prise for profit, but taxed on their re-
turns Of personal property.
The committee. which met Jointly
with committee from the Planters
Association, submitted the following
report, read by Secretary Trent:
Honolulu. Feb 20, 1905.
Mr.. George w. Smith, President Mer-
chants Association.
Dear Sir: The Committee on Public
Affairs met committee from the
Planters Association. to discuss Joint
ly the suggested amendments to the
law on the tax on real and personal
property.
II appeared to be the sense of the
committee from the Planters Asso-
citation that II would be unwise, at the
general revision OF the tax law: that.
In their opinion, It would be wiser to
let the law relative to taxes on stocks
OF merchandise, stand as II is at pres
ent and for us to secure through the
assessor. such concessions as we may
be able to obtain by friendly arrange
ments with him, as during the past
year.
The committee suggest that we en-.
deavor to secure an amendment to the
present law, whereby merchandise
businesses would not be assessed az
enterprises for profit, but would be
taxed only on their returns of per-
sonal property. They also suggest that
VIC endeavor to secure an addition to
our present tax law, OF section that
would tax the sales Of businesses car
rying no stocks OF merchandise in the
Territory, II same, in the opinion OF
N'"B'NNht itkui uuNibtlo, D0
drafted to hold II tested in the courts.
The following is the draft submitted
by your committee.
Partnerships. firms, corporations, or
individuals, selling merchandise for
profit, in the Territory of Hawaii, and
carrying no stocks of merchandise. or |
carrying stocks Of merchandise less In |
value than one-fourth of their total |
sales, such partnerships, ETC.. shall be
taxed one-half Of one per cent on their |
total annual salos. and the books ol
such partnerships. ETC., shall at all rea.
times be accessible to the Tax |
Assessor. or his Deputy. for examina.
ton. Failure to grant the Assessor
Of his Deputy, full access to the books
Of said partnerships. firms. etc, shall
render same liable to penalty OF not
less than one hundred dollars, and not
exceeding five hundred dollars.
The Planters Association committee
report to their body. on Thursday.
February 90, and II the Merchants
Association is prepared to fall in with
the suggestions OF the Planters COM
mittee. we think 1t desirable, in view
Of the shortness of time at our dis
posal. to so notify that committee.
prior to their reporting to their Asso-
citation.
We understand. II is the purpose OF
the Planters Association, II we can
meet their views, to have the proposed
drafted forthwith, for
presentation to the Legislature; also
to draft bill appointing commission
to work during the ensuing two years
upon the entire tax problem of the Is
lands, and report to the Legislature Of
1907, with bill dealing exclusively |
with the entire taxation Of the To-
lands
Respectfully submitted,
IAMES n