Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-04-27
COUNTY TAX BILL
KILLED IN HOUSE
Indefinitely Postponed
After Only a Feeble
Struggle
HOUSE
HOUSE

CeHI-tdN Vii, senate Bill l3S, was
killed in the House yesterday after
noon. with only feeble struggle
made in its behalf by its supporters.
! 1t was considered in Committee of
the Whole, with Representative Ka-
ma in the chair, and after half an
hour of debate the bill, which was
to allow Counties to raise taxes of
their own to the extent of quarter
of one per cent, was throttled by the
motion of Correa that the Commit
tee rise and recommend that the
measure be indefinitely postponed.
This motion carried,
Rice, who opposed the passage of
the bill as sent down from the SEN
ate, pointed out that 1t was very diff
ferent from the printed bill, having
been much amended in the upper
chamber. He hoped to see the Coun-
ties. before very long, given the
power of taxation, but could see no
virtue in the measure under discus
sion. II was introduced in the Sem
ate for a purpose and II had served
its purpose-this being the killing,
or rather the emasculation, of Coel-
hos million and a half dollar loan
bill.
Shingle also opposed the passage
OF the measure, and Sheldon and Ka-
leiopu supported 1t. But the minor
ity in favor OF its passage was
small one. Many of the members
had received importunate wireless
messages from the constituents ask
ing them to defeat the measure,
some of these messages being receiv-
ed while the bill was under discus
sion, and they had their effect.
By By the Board
The two public utility resolutions
came in for vigorous attack on the
part OF those who represent certain
interests. One of them, the one call
ing for the appointment of a COM
mission to investigate into the con-
duct of the business OF the various
public service corporations, such as
the gas, electric, steamship and
railroad companies. was killed out
right, chiefly through the efforts of
Sheldon and Rice, aided By the OBJ
vious rulings OF the Speaker, who
was opposed to the measure. The
other resolution, for the appointment
of a gas and electric inspector and
an investigation of the gas and cleo
trio companies by the Superintend-
ent of Public Works, passed the
House, but later, on motion of Co
hen, who was evidently piqued by
the failure OF the other measure. the
House voted to reconsider its vote
and recall the resolution from the
Senate, to which 1t had already been
sent. The Senate, however, had by
that time adjourned. and 1t was too
late to get the measure back until
this morning.
Powerful influence was evidently
brought to bear to kill these popular
measures. The Judiciary Committee
tried to smother the original resolu-
tion. which set forth that the gas
and electric companies are giving
poor service and charging exorbi-
tant rates, and when finally forced
to report 1t back, recommended u
substitute resolution much weaker
than the original measure. II is a
noteworthy fact that the Judiciary
Committee was very particular to
give the corporations a hearing, but
carefully avaided urging the general
public TO express itself on the subject
. Senate Discourteous
The Senate very cheerfully allow
ed the House resolutions to die an
untimely death by adjourning before
, the House had finished its work,
leaving all the joint resolutions IN
the air. This angered Kaleiopu,
, who moved that the House do likewise
q and let few Senate bills die in the
! same way, but the Speaker refused
. to consider the motion.
r No Primary Commission
. Castro presented concurrent res
, olution for the appointment of Il
= Commission to study up on primary
laws and draft a primary law bill
4 for next session, but the resolution
n was tabled.
!. Home Rule Resolution
a A concurrent resolution identica
with that killed in the Senate re
n Gently, favoring the appointment o.
. residents of Hawaii to all eXecutiy,
q and judicial positions in the Terri
4 tory whenever practicable, was de
II ferred until today. Considerable op
= position to it developed, chiefly OF
y the ground that the House had al
ready passed a resolution of simlla
effect itself.
Gag Rule
a 1t has been noticeable all through
the session, and was especially S,
l. yesterday, that the Speaker apple
TN tho pap IN Castro and A Nnnuo ~,