The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-04-21

the law of stamp duties and report
to the Governor with recommends
tions, reported on favorably by the
ways and means committee passed
second reading.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS BILL.
Senate bill to provide for public
improvements within the counties
and the City and County of Honolulu
by means of an additional property
tax of not to exceed one-fomth of one
per cent was read a second time with
the favorable report of a majority of
The judiciary committee.
Knudsen moved that the bill pass
second reading.
Fairchild, seConding the motion
said ne had been severely criticized
for bringing in this bill but it was
an alternative to the issuance of coun-
ty bonds. The necessity for the bin
might become very apparent within
the next period. He was informed by
the treasurer that the estimates of
revenue heretofore made were not foo
conservative. A fall i'm the price of
sugar might cause a material de-
crease in the income tax. The i'm
provements taken out of the hands of
the Territory to make might. in GER
tain circumstances, go back to the
Territory and if so where was the
S2Oo.OOO and odd going to come from?
Chllingworth thought the hin was
going too far this session. He sinh
mitted that they had already given
10 the counties enough other work
TO keep them busy for the rest of
their term of two years. Besides. he
objected to adding to the burden of
taxation. Perhaps the time would
come when boards of supervisors
composed of business men would he
elected
FaiTci'ild replied that the bill gave
the Governor as much check upon the
boards of supervisors as he would
have upon an issue of bonds.
Coelho was surprised at the lack of
knowledge shown by the member from
Honolulu relative to the manner in
which local public improvements are
made on the mainland. The issue of
ponds was a dangerous expedient. as
The people might elect irresponsible
men to the boards of supervisors.
Chillingworth retorted that the
member from Maui neglected to mem
ton that, on the mainland, all such
questions of expenditure were sub
mitted to the people.
Fairchild said the initiative and re-
ferendum was a new thing, while the
self-taxation of the people for i'm
! provements was as old as the New
Hampshire hills
President Smith opposed the bill.
saying it gave the power to two or
three men in a county 20 impose ad-
ditional taxation. The principle was
unsound. He denied that the scheme
was the way they did in America.
County government was a new thing
and they should go slow in adding
to its powers. Taxes were not light
in this Territory. One per cent on
property was not apparently high,
but being on full valuation made a
difference. Then there were the regu-
lar and the special taxes on income,
borne to large extent by small share
holders, the inheritance tax, etc. Kau-
al was selfish in urging this measure,
being richer in proportion to its area
than Hawaii and therefore as stated
not needing such law. While de-
nouncing the bill as foolish, unsound
and weak the president had time call
ed by Coelho, but an extension was
cordially granted by the Senate. He
moved the indefinite postponement of
the bill.
Knudsen moved to strike out an
amendment formerly made to the bill
as unnecessary.
The motion to Indefinitely postpone
the bill was lost on the following
vote:
Ayes-Brown, Chillingworth, Har-
vey, Kalama, Quinn, Smith,.
Noes-Baker, Coelho, Fairchild,
Knudsen, Makekau Mccarthy Moore,
Robinson, Woods-9.
Knudsen's amendment carried.