The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-04-17
THE COMMITTEES REPORT
ON THE REFUNDlNG BILL

coascioufiy drawn nri sum ~ 81
iop.of1 from that Territory. or o net
baiancs ~ slightly over tt0o.Vo9 Isf
year. whioh has been Withdrawn from
the islands circulation and shipped IN
gold coin 10 the subtressury AZ San
Francisco
Ignoring. for the moment. the
wishes Of Hawai- and acting only from
national standpoint. your committee
believe that for a time. at least. three
fourths of these revenues should be
set aside 20 meet the need for public
works IN these Islands and Go assist
In building up substantial American
Territory IN the mid-Pacinc.
Among the immediate needs for
Hawaii are; School buildings. t1sS,-
900. roads 60 open new lands 10 set
tlement. s35O.o0O. asylum for the in
sane. $4,000; harbor improvements at
Honolulu and Hllo. $1,000. 600: smaller
harbors and landings for island ship
ping. 100000; Federal buildings. ST.
100, 900; lighthouses, $4,000; total, s5,-
lis 900.
ITO the above should be added $685.
600 for fortifications and al least ST.
100000 for the beginning OF a repair
station and naval base at Pearl Har-
Dor. appropriations for both OF which
objects will be available from this
fund under the provisions Of the bill.
First In Importance among these
items stands the need for aid TO the
schools.
For many years Hawaii has impos-
ed upon her citizens a heavier per
capita tax for schools than any State
In the Union.
Since annexation that Territory has
expended over s2,25O,OO0 for the mainte-
nance of schools and for the erection
of school buildings.
THE educational problem of Hawaii
is Of greater magnitude than that of
any other Territory. Seventy per
cent. of the children enrolled in the
schools are OF other than Caucasian
parentage. In order TO make Hawaii
thoroughly American Territory,
schools must be provided for children
Of all nationalities. The Territory has
already borrowed large sums for
school buildings, but the limit of safe
borrowing has been reached. Lack Of
funds has already necessitated a re-
duction of 20 per cent. In all teachers
salaries, and In those isolated islands
where the cost Of living is necessarily
high this reduction is keenly felt.
THE nation expects higher
standard and more general distribu-
tion OF education in Hawaii than in
Porto Rico, yet we are putting into the
Federal Treasury the very funds from
| Hawaii that In Porto Rico are given
tc that island for its educational and
general expenses.
"A fiscal policy that is sound for
Porto Rico should be sound also for
Hawaii. The mere fact that a greater
breadth of political rights has been
| given Hawaii does not relieve her f.
nancial strain. Nor does 1t seem just
that a country which voluntarily gave
over its own sovereignty to enter the
Union should be made to labor under
harder financial conditions than one
acquired by conquest.
"Financially the business man and
the average citizen of Hawaii is under
greater pressure today than he was
in the years preceding annexation.
That fact does not lessen their loyalty
to this country; but 1t Is high reason
why Congress should permit that de-
| tached community to build uD the
Territory along sound lines out OF
their own resources.
"A community in which the citizen.
are oyertaxed and with limited schoo
facilities can never become q. thorough
ly American Territory.
This bill does not set aside thi.
. fund for the Hawaiian treasury, moi
is IL available for current expenses
as in Porto Rico. IT can be expended
only for public works of a permanen
nature. and Congress is to be In alb
solute control of its distribution.
''The 25 per cent. reserved viii NOR
than meet Federal salaries and othe
, costs OF the Territory to the Govern
, ment, SO that Hawaii will not be
| charge upon the Treasury.
"It was not the purpose either O
Congress- or the American people l.
annex Hawaii in order To help ou
the Federal Treasury
What we desired then and now 1