Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-05
HAWAIIAN DELEGATES
WILL BE GIVEN HEARING By
HOUSE TERRITORIES COMMITTEE.

The House committee on territories Will.
beginning tomorrow morning. give series
OF hearings to the Hawaiian delegation
which has come to Washington to advocate
legislation requiring three-fourths OF the
customs duties and Internal revenue COL
lections In the territory to be expended on
public works there. The delegation con-
sists of George w. Smith, who was the
chairman OF the first board of supervisors:
], r. Gait, Z. A. McInerny and NJ p. Rob-
inson. from Honolulu; d. II. Case from
Maui. A. B. Lobenstein from the Island OF
Hawaii and w. o. Smith OF Honolulu rife
hearings vii probably last four or five days
and Chairman Hamilton of the territories
COMMITTEES decided to take the matter up
Immediately.
Since the Hawaiian Islands became a
territory the federal government has taken
all the customs and Internal revenue COLI
lections. which amount to more than one
million dollars a year. In the days of the
monarchy and of the republican form of
government this money was collected and
spent In the Islands. II amounts TO about
81 per capita of the population of the
territory and Its loss is felt very severely.
especially as IT is necessary TO make It UP
In part by an increase OF the local taxes.
As the proportion of the taxpayers Is rela-
lively much smaller than on the mainland.
1t has been found that the financial burden
on American citizens, Including native born
citizens. is heavy one
Public Works Curtailed.
Under the administration Of Governor
Carter there has been a heavy cut In all
territorial expenses. especially in salaries.
including those of school teachers, until
now the Expenditures are meeting the III
come; this has also involved the curtail-
ment of much-needed public works and
improvements. The territory has bond
ed debt Of $31S7,000. which is about at
the rate Of 21s per cent OF the taxable
property in the territory. Owing to the
fact that the population is scattered over
five different islands. necessitating the dH-
cost of administration is proportionately
greater than on the mainland
Another difficulty has been experienced
through the long leases of public land,
which were made principally In the days
Of the monarchy, but some of which still
have twenty years to run. The rentals
are remarkably low, there being 1,tl9.16
acres of public lands leased for an annual
rental OF $106 400, which is an average OF
burt little more than 0 cents an acre. 1t
has been found that this legacy from the
olden times is serious handicap to modern
American government.
Mr.. w. O.. Smith, the chairman of the
delegation. in discussing the visit said:
I'VE ask nothing for the exclusive
benefit of Hawaii. We are here to ask that
IS per cent of the customs duties and in
ternal revenue collected in the territory for
the next twenty years be expended on
public works there. We do not ask dol
lar for our current expenses. The only
benefit the people of the island will reap
will be that the money spent for wages on
the proposed public works will be kept in
circulation in the islands instead of being
shipped in gold to San Francisco"