Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-03-20


correct.
The Chairman. That is the state
ment?
Mr.. G.. W. Smith. Yes, sir.
Senator Wetmore. DO your reve-
nues show any elasticity? Are they in
creasing?
Mr.. @. w. Smith. No. they have not
so far. except as Mr.. Calf just stated,
by raising values. We have increased
the revenue to some extent that way,
but not very much.
Mr.. w. o. Smith. We are now liv-
ing within our revenues as far as cur
rent revenues and current expenses are
concerned. but for two or three years
after annexation we were not able 10
do Il. The expenses exceeded the rev.
nues, and we could not cut them down,
but later there was a substantial re-
duction in expenses and the Income
has been increased.
Taxation and Wealth.
Senator Flint. DO | understand that
there has been no increased taxation by
reason OF the increased wealth there?
Mr. g. W. Smith. There has been an
increased taxation, but no Increase In
the rate.
Senator Flint. Not by increased val
uation, but by new money coming IN
for investment, in erecting buildings?
Mr.. @. w. Smith. There has been
very little of that. Mr.. Senator. There
have been new plantations started In
the last few years. which have In
creased the amount OF taxes Received.
but only two or three new buildings Of
such value that the tax would be in
creased to any appreclable amount.
The Chairman. How about the
growth of your city?
Mr.. G. w. Smith. That. sir. re.
mains about stationary. During 1900
and 1901 we had after annexation a
boom in the islands and there were
new plantations laid out and new bull.
dings constructed, and smaller build.
ings. and with machinery coming In
there we had an influx OF the mechan.
ic class which Increased the population
Temporarily. With the cessation OF
the improvements that class has re.
turned 10 the Pacific coast,
Increased pooulation.
The Chairman, Why has that influx
of people stopped. II you can tell us?
MIR. q. w smith. The mechanic
class found no further work for them.
Building operatlons-the erection OF
new mills or the Improvement OF old
mIlls-have ceased.
The Chairman. You refer to sugar
mills?
Mr.. q. w. Smith. Yes, sir: sugar
mills.
Senator Wetmore, How about an
Increase in the number OF Chinese ?
Oriental Increase.
Mr.. G. w. Smith. The Chinese have
decreased. The Chinese population In
1895 was about 10000. There are
about $4,000 Chinese there now. We
have about 1000 japanese there.
b The Chairman. Has the japanese
population Increased or diminished?
Mr.. G.. W. Smith. That has dimin.
ished of late, for they are emigratlng
10 the Pacific coast in large numbers.
and the number coming In Is lust a lii.
tie under the departures.
Senator Wetmore. But the number
OF Chinese has not Increased?
Mr.. G. w. Smith. The Chinese have
decreased from 1000 ten years ago Ia
about $4,000.
The Chairman. What Is the grand
aggregate OF people living there of all
kinds?
Mr.. G. w. Smith One hundred and
fifty.four thousand-about 60 900 jap
anese $4,000 Chinese, $4,000 Hawaii
ans and part Hawaiians, and Porto ri
cans and Americans.
Portuguese.
= Senator Wetmore. Portuguese?
Mr.. G. w. Smith. There are TWEEN
ty-odd thousand Portuguese. and they
form one OF the most stable element,
OF our population.
Senator piles. What Is the number
OF your population OF the Caucasian
race?
Mr.. q. w. Smith. From twelve Il
fifteen thousand.
b Senator Wetmore. DO the Portu
guese bring their families with them
Mr.. G. w. Smith. The Portuguese,
began coming to the island under con
tract in 1888 and brought their fami
lies with them, but the greater mum