The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-02-05
ONE PLANK
IS ROT TEN
But Hughes Insists on
Carrying Out His
Pledges.

No business in Gods world is con-
Quoted in so unbusinesslike a manner
as that of the waterworks business of
the Territory of Hawaii, especially that
part of 1t up Nuuanu Valley" declared
Representative John Hughes in the
course of his remarks last night at the
meeting of the Republican Central
Committee on the question of turning
the waterworks systems over to the
respective counties. I'VE are told to-
night that the Oahu system is run at a
loss of $4,000 a month. What I want
to know is. who did the figuring for
us? / have been assured by an ex-
representative that the waterworks
are making money and I think that
there has been some fiimfiamming."
The question of waterworks and that
of a direct primary law were the two
subjects most debated at the meeting
last night, which was attended by
many of the leading Republicans OF
the city, Chairman A. G. M. Robertson
presiding. Drafted bills covering other
planks of the party platform were
presented and accepted, but these went
through without discussion The draft
primary law was not adopted, the COM
mittee deeming 1t best to make the
matter public before taking action, the
matter being of direct interest to ev-
cry voter in the Territory. In the mat
ter of the waterworks the legislative
committee had not prepared any draft,
abandoning the whole thing as soon as
the figures showing the monthly deficit
and the figuring showing a bigger de-
felt still in the future were shown
them.
TAX COMMISSION PROPOSED.
The first bill adopted was that Great
ing a commission to enquire into the
present ..unsatisfac ctory and unfair tax
alton system" The bill provides for
the appointment of a commission or
three experienced and competent men
by the Governor to investigate and ex-
anime and report not later than July
/. 1sOS. Each commissioner shall re-
ceive $3.50 for his work, the whole ex-
pense of the investigation to be not
more than $3.50.
AN EMASCULATED MEASURE.
The act which is intended to fulfill
the party pledge regarding the turn
ing over of the control of the schools |
TO the individual counties was also |
accepted. 1t provides for the
creation in each county of Commit
tee of Education. without powers and
without pay to act as an advisory
body for the Department of Education.
OAHU'S LOSS AND KAUATS GAIN.
The division of the amounts collect
ed in income taxes between the coun-
ties and the Territory is TO be settled
by an amendment of the present act,
the income of the county of
Oahu viii be reduced some $4,000 a
year and that of the other counties,
/
lngly increased. This is done by pro-
viding that the income taxes of cor
oorations shall be considered as col
ected within the county where their
principal business is carried on. The
payment of this income tax by the
head offices of the plantations in Ho-
aolulu will, therefore, should the bill
become law, be credited to the coun-
les in which the plantations are To-
,ated.
LIQUOR LAW NOT READY.
c. C. Ballentyne, who reported for
he legislative committee, explained
hat the liquor bill draft was not yet
eady. being now in the hands of the
typewriter. This would be ready for
next week. He then ,
PRESENTED the draft of the primary law, {
which had been prepared by Chairman
robertson. modelled after the Wiscon- !
in law. ,
DIRECT PRIMARY Law.
This proposed bill was explained by I
Ir Robertson as one 10 place the 6
of candidates for the va {
ious elective offices in the hands OF the I
oters directly and TO do away with c
he nominating conventions. AS out I
ned in the submitted draft it was I
pen to amendment.
The draft bill contains the following h
oints:
All candidates for nomination for an '
Continued on Page Two.1