The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-12-13
TONNAGE TAX IS
WARM SUBJECT
MERCHANTS WANT LIGHT OS RE
CEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
BUT THERE Is NOTHING DOING"

The last and most interesting meet
ing of the Merchants Association TO"
the year 1907 was held yesterday after
noon in the Association rooms in the
McCandess building A few minutes
after the meeting had commenced Pre-
sident Smith announced that a quorum
was present, and that he considered
il a good thing to advertise. "The
last meeting was such failure as rar
as numbers go. that ! was determined
to get a large number present today
if possible
During the entire meeting matters
of great interest were taken up, and
the debates were very interesting
Much interest was taken by the mem
bers relative to the Shippers Wharf
Tax, a matter which number OF
the members admitted they knew very
little about, but considered it would be
wise to continue paying their taxes
when called upon to do so. Auditor
McInerny sent a written report in the
nature of a letter, showing the condi-
ton of the finances which proved that
| the Association had paid most of it's
debts but was nearly in a minus con-
dition, at the present time. Mclnerny
was unable to be present, as he is at
present doing jury duty. The total
income had been 1927 OF and the total
disbursements $3.50 OS leaving a bal
ance of $27 SO. The statement did not
include the dues for the month Of
November, or the dues which are due
for December. Chairman Smith asked
about the outstanding bill for the Asso-
Citations share of the bill due for the
| dinner given to the visiting Congress-
men amounting to $3.50. Chairman
Smith suggested that an assessment of
S. head be levied on each member to
wipe out the debt A motion was
made and carried to that effect, but not
John Emmeluth protesting against
such any arbitrary assessment. He
said that he thought the committee
should have had the money before the
dinner was given. Fred Macfarlane
| chairman of the committee replied
that the committee had acted in good
faith, but for some reason or other had
neglected to take the matter up. The
association is the one that owes the
money, and not the committee. l
think that the only thing to do is to
place an assessment on each member
and wipe out debt which is an honor
able one. At the time that the dinner
was first thought of, a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, one from the
Planters Association, and myself were
appointed by our respective organiza-
tions to arrange the details for the
dinner which was given. The matter
has been forgotten as far as this asso-
citation is concerned, and I think that
it should be paid at once"
The motion was then carried with
out any further debate or objection.
Secretary Paris announced that no
word had been received from the
American Hawaiian S. S. Company in
answer to the Associations cablegram
sent to the home office in New York,
protesting against the delay of Christ
mas freight in san Francisco. DO you
wish to take up the question of sub
marine torpedo boats?" asked the
chairman, Receiving no reply the mat
/ for Nroy, 10 m, tho tab1a
T. J. King wanted to know about the
quarantine tax question, and also about
J the money that was being received, and
to what use was it being put to. Paris
replied by stating that some of the
money was being paid to the Promo.
ton Committee and they were getting
great support from it,
At present there is between $1,000
and $500 on hand. r. H. Petrie an
nounced that the money was being paid
to the Board of Health and the Promo
ton committee and that he thought
that it should be continued. Secre-
tary Paris announced that for three
years the Merchants Association have
been trying to get a report from the
Shippers Wharf committee but had
been unable to do so, Mr.. King moved
that a report should be asked for
again.
General SoDer asked if the associa
ton was represented on the tax com
mission and when told that it was no
wanted to amend the motion to pre-,
vent the further collection of the tax
He said that no one could get any in
formation, and all they were told to Dc
was to keep on paying and to keel
their mouths shut. The motion made
by King was finally carried with &
rider on it stating that the association
wanted to continue the collection o.
the tax, but wanted a statement.
w. T. Lucas was very DESTROYS o.
knowing why some goods were taxed
and others not taxed. w. w. Harris
explained that coal and lumber were
not taxed as they received their char