The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-07-27
ACT
A SUCCESS
CONTINUED from page one)


Board of Supervisors spoke as follows
in regard to the statements. THE
statement that the taxpayers are more
heavily burdened by reason of the
County Act is entirely without founda-
ton. There has been no increased
rate of taxation. The county has kept
within it's so per cent of the taxes and
the state of the public works and inn
provements is an answer to the ques-
ton of compensation.
IF there is an increase of an ex-
pense of $2500OO, which I am not pre-
pared to admit not having seen the fig
ures of the auditor, it is an account of
the Territorial offices not decreasing
their expenses after we took over the
work. However the County Act has
put no increase Of taxation on the peo-
pie"
Supervisor H. T. Moore said: Il fail
to see what such a statement is based
upon. 1t is not true. The rate of tax
alton has not increased at all and the
people have gotten more for their
money than they used to get under the
old form of government and they have
obtained it without so much trouble and
expense
For instance we rum the Police De-
partment today with less expense than
the Territory did. We run the Fire
Department at less expense and so on
through the water works, sewers sys-
TENS and so forth. And do we get
any thing in return? No. All of
the fines and revenues that come to
partment go to the Territory. The
money from water works and sewers
systems go to the Territory. We get
nothing. We are ever feeding two
horses at the police station, used on
the patrol wagon, that belong to the
Territory.
Look at the Department of Public
Works, look atthe Auditors Deart-
ment-they are practically useless to-
day, but still they are maintained the
same as they were before. They are
kept up with the same amount of ex-
pense. Why don't they clean out the
| deadwood from the departments in the
Territorial offices.
1.-THE people are getting more today
than ever before for their money. They
are taxed no more, the rate of taxation
being the same. If it costs more to run
the government now the trouble lies
with the Territory.
IF they would do away with a por-
, ton of the organic act and let the coun-
! ty have a tax collector and assessor
things would be better but they will
not do that They will not let the
delegate ask Congress for an action like
that.
"As 1 said the people are better off to-
day than they ever were before. The
county government is a success in spite
of all the statements to the contrary.
If they would give us a little more
power it would be still more of a sue
cess
County Treasurer Trent said: 81 can
not say anything for l do not know
about the figures and 1 would have to
! look into them before / could talk about
the matter. However / think that
county government is not costing the
people as much as government did be-
fore and it is much better. On the
other islands the people are very pleas
ed with the county act for there they
can get bridge fixed without waiting
| for the matter to come to Honolulu
and go through the Department of Pub
lie Works. The trouble with the whole
matter is that the departments have
! too much material that is useless and is
costing money"
! Supervisor Lucas was asked in re-
gard to the matter: 1T is all untrue. 1t
does not cost more and the people are
] ct no,
they ever did before. We are keeping
within our so per cent and we are CIV
ing far more to the people than they
ever received before. Look at the arch
at the Pail and the concrete bridges
scattered around the island. They are
not there to last for few days or years
/ but they will be there when all of us
are dead
| IF there is any needless expense it
! is in the Territorial Departments that
are practically useless today. You
don't see any of the county officials
| drive around in carriages with coach
men like you do with the Territorial
boys. We serve the people and are
giving them their moneys worth and
now they say that the county govern
ment is a mistake"
Dan Case, County Attorney for Maui,
on a recent visit to Honolulu, said he
! believed it would be impossible to find
a man in Maui County who would for
a moment consider the suggestion Of
going back to the old system of govern
ment, or who did not believe the present
| county system a great advance on the
old.
| Il have not made any study of the
| figures" said William Pfotenhauer so
! am unable to say anything about the
/ relative difference between the cost Of
county and territorial systems of gov
| eminent. County government has PROV
| ed far more of success than l had
! ever anticipated. We have had an eX-
! cellent set of supervisors and it IS to
| be hoped that We win secure as excel
/ lent a board in the future.
! Il was not originally in favor Of coun-
! ~ erovarpu,apt said Il E,avop Tlishon