Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-03-09
Large Assembly Of
Business Leaders
BeforeLeeisIative
Committee

Honolulu saw something last night
that is probably new In the history
OF the world, certainly unique in the
history of Hawaii lot of men
Clamoring to be taXed-and expert
encIng difficulty In being allowed by
those upon whom the burden of tax
alton will not fall to impose heavy
tax upon themselves.
Members of the Sugar Planters Az
ISOLATION. financiers, and prominent
business men and lawyers, and other
men appeared before the Ways and
Means Committee of the Senate and
the Finance Committee of the House,
sitting Jointly, and urged that the
Legislature pass the law imposing Il
special 2-per-cent. income tax upon
all incomes in excess OF $4,000. Only
four men opposed the measure-Geo.
R.sCarter, l.. l.. McCandless, Charlie
Achi, and A. V. Gear. The others
were unanimous in their contention
that this tax is absolutely necessary
To save the principal industry of Ha-
wall from ruin.
l.. ID. Tenney, speaking as men,
her of the Planters Association,
made the frank statement that II Is
necessary for the maintenance of the
one great industry of this country,
and for the development of any
other industry, that laborers be pro-
vided through immigration.
Representative Shingle, presiding,
opened the meeting with the state
ment that II had been called for the
purpose of aifording the public an
opportunity to express its views tree
ly regarding immigration and the
conservation of natural resources,
and to discuss particularly the bill
imposing an income tax of 2 per cent
upon all incomes over $4,000.
II is estimated, he said, that the
revenue from this tax will be $6l2,-
900. or this 1t is proposed to apply
three-fourths to immigration and
Dne-fourth to conservation of our
natural resources. To show what Is
wanted, he read that portion of the
Governors biennial message relating
natural resources. The committee,
Single said had asked Governor
Frear to be present and to go more
fully into details regarding the mat
tnrg ~ ha diScuSgad
Governor Frear
Governor Frear. taking the floor,
said that II our present prosperity Is
to be maintained. II must be by Sc
curing an ample supply of labor and
developing our natural resources. II
the sugar plantations should Ian
guish II would mean hard times all
around.
What are our prospects for labor?
Chinese immigration was cut of by
annexation. japanese immigration
is practically shut of. Some tint
ago a large number of Portuguese
and Spaniards were brought in at 1
cost OF 100000. the money beint
raised by the planters. But that 4
stopped now. II immigration o
that kind Is to be secured now. |
must be either by Act OF Congress o
by Act of the Legislature. AS 1t
impossible for the planters them
selves to obtain immigrants fror
Portugal and the Azores, they mus
be brought from the mainland.
Two years ago an Immigratio
Commission was appointed by Act
Congress. II has been hoped to &c
them down here, but so far they hav
been unable to come. And we ca
get no aid from Congress until the
do come.
Now, we can't get immigrant
from the Philippines nor from Port
Rico. We have been trying to q
them from the mainland, but "
cant get them in adequate number
The only way to get them Is fro
Europe and Azores, We propose
raise the money by an income ia
with an exemption OF $4,000.
u Two hundred and twenty-five tho
sand dollars is only three-fourths
what II cost to bring In compar
lively small number of laborers w
years ago, and this tax is to run on
two years. So 1t will be seen tn
this amount is not any too much.
We must also develop diyersifi,
industries for the land that is n
suitable for sugar. This will devt
op the Territory. Just how the !
naming $4,000 year is to
spent has not been decided. o.
way might be by aid to the FEEDER
Experiment Station. We aall knc
the good that has been done by {
Planters Experiment Station. v
know what the experiment static