The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-20
DELEGATES IN
WASHINGTON
At WORK
Hawaii's Men Make a
Very Favorable
Impression.
tMan Special to the Advertiser.)

(Mall SPECIAL to the AdVertlSer)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. S.-The
event of the session, as far as Hawaii
is concerned, has been the arrival here
last Sunday evening-three days ago
OF the delegation to plead for the re-
funding bill. They are all at the New
Willard Hotel. Their hearing before
the House Committee on Territories
began Tuesday, which was consider
ably earlier than they expected, as
there had been talk in the committee
of postponing the hearing for a week
and allowing witnesses on certain
Alaska bills to be heard.
Today Delegate Kalanianaole has
had the delegation in charge. With
him they went to the White House
this morning and We're presented to
Mr.. Roosevelt. who showed an interest
not only in their mission, but in the
men themselves. This evening they
are going to the residence of Senator
Foraker at o'clock, where the Dele
gate will present them. AS Senator
Foraker is a good friend of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii, the visitors are anx-
ious to keep in close touch with him
during their stay here. There have
been no hearings today, and there was
only brief session yesterday, at
which Mr.. d. H. Case OF Maui was
heard.
When the House Committee assem-
bled Tuesday morning, Mr.W. o. Smith
led off in q general statement. He de-
scribed what conditions had been in
the past. emphasizing also what the
receipts had been under the old re-
gime. before annexation. He told the
that the Territorial govern
ment had been gradually trying to ad
Just itself to the new conditions, but
that that could not be done all at once,
the result of which was that debts
had been piling up.
POWERS IS DOUBTFUL.
Ex-Governor Powers of Maine, a |
member of the committee, led off in |
he questioning of Mr.. Smith. He in |
Iuired extensively as to the tax rates |
md the assessment rates, although his |
Inquiries did not necessarily imply |
hostility, but a desire for reliable in |
formation on which to base legislative |
.ction. Mr.. w. O. Smith was follow
ID that morning by George w. Smith, |
resident of the Merchants Associa- |
ion, who presented a carefully pre-
'ared paper. He analyZed the tax |
'ayments in Arizona, New Mexico and |
oklahoma, comparing the same with |
ak payments in Hawaii, both on the
asis of total population and on the
aSis of citizen population. The ques- |
ions propounded to him brought out
considerable Information to the effect |
hat the direct taxes paid in Hawaii |
re about the same as in the other Ter
tories, while the importations of SILL
10000 annually show that the Terri
Dry is also contributing its share to-
ard the indirect taxes that go into
le United States Treasury.
After Mr. d. H. Case of Maui had
lad a carefully prepared statement
lis morning he was questioned extern
vely by Representative Lloyd of Mis- |
'uri These questions started out
18th expenses of the Legislature and
ldicated an opinion by Mr.. Lloyd that
le cost Of running the Territorial 6
legislature is excessive. He also ques- i
oned Mr.. Case about land rents in
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