The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-27

| He referred to the trouble that arose
| over the taxes on the Mahuka site as
a reason why the bill should become
law. 1t passed On third reading
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Senate returned the resolution
| to start the Bishop street extension
| at Beretania avenue and run 1t
through to the waterfront, having
amended the resolution TO start the
extension at Merchant street. The
House did not agree, and conference
committee was named.
Senate resolution instructing the
Superintendent of Public Works not
to build any wharf at Hanalei, Ka-
uai, until the government got title to
the foreshore was adopted
Debate Over Meter Inspector.
There was a debate on the third
reading of the House resolution that
provides for a government inspector
of gas and electric meters. Sheldon
could not see the absurdity of the
public having to depend upon meters
which are tested only by the employees
of the corporations who stand to win
every time the consumer loses. Kauai
has no meters to test, either, and con-
seouently would share none in the ben
eft, this being a reason quite sutfi-
Gent in his eyes why the Honolulu
people could be robbed if the corpora
tons choose to rob them.
Castro defended the measure, which
finally passed, Is to Z.
Public Utilities Commission.
The resolution to appoint a general
public utility commission was attack
ed, Kawewehi, Kaleiopu and Sheldon
going after it on the ground that Ha-
wall had too many commissions
silly, but presented by way of argu-
ment. Kaleiopu wanted to be sure of
the constitutionality of the measure,
and asked that it be referred to his
committee. He did not state what !
tests he would apply.
In this debate the Speaker was ar |
bitrary in his rulings against Castro |
and Alfonso, the sponsors for the reso- |
lutions. Everyone else was allowed to |
wander all over the lot so long as |
they opposed the commission, but to |
rise in opposition was to be gagged |
by the rules.
The resolution was lost,
Cohen moved to reconsider the vote |
on the meter inspector resolution. |
Castro was ruled out of order when |
he wanted to speak for his own reso-
luton, and the vote to reconsider car
ried.
Delinquent Tax Penalty.
A debate and scrap came over Sem
ate Bill 1T, which puts penalty of
per cent. per annum and no more
on delinquent taxes and does away
with the 10 per cent. penalty and 10
per cent. per annum interest now in
force. Rice attacked the bill, pointing
out that in times of financial
stringency the corporations would
rather pay the per cent than pay
their taxes when due, the result being
that the treasury would be bare. At
the conclusion of his speech he moved
the taoling of the bill.
81 protest against this business of
one man trying to run this House.
said Alfonso, jumping to his feet.
Here ne makes all his arguments and
then tries to shut us off,
81 have perfect right to make
motion to table If I want to-" retorted
Rice.
Yes, but it is not fair. and you
know it, shouted Alfonso, waving
bunch of bills at him.
Two others of the Kauai delegation
rose and shouted that the Hilo men,
Der was out of order.
The Speaker sternly babe Alfonso be
good.
The motion to table was lost.
Cohen supported the bill as some
thing in the interests of the poor man,
who was most likely to be delinquent
The taxes are high enough now, he
said, without adding penalties.
Shingle pointed out how the bill
would benefit the corporations and en-
barrass the government Kaleiopu
also saw no merit in the bill.
After one amendment from Shingle.
| TO make the interest 10 per cent, had
| been lost, and one or two others kill
| ed. the main motion was put The
result was Is to II, the chair announc-
| ing that the bill had failed to pass.
| Alfonso at once moved to recon-
| slider the vote, one member having ar
rived in time to vote. The motion car
| ried and this time the bill passed, Is
| to IL. This was enough to pass it.
Senate Sidestepped.
| At this stage the chair announced
that the Senate had adjourned before
| the resolution to christen one of Hilo
breathing spots "Kealawaa Park had
reached it. This would prevent the
| resolution becoming law.
Castro asked What had become of
| the communication calling back the
! gas meter resolution. The Speaker
| announced that that resolution had
not reached the Senate either.
This made Kaleiopu mad.
/ IF that's the way they are going
to do business, when they know we
have matters here for them, I move
that we also adjourn and let all these
Senate bills die he said
'The chair refuses to take any no.
tice of such a notion said the Speak.
er, and kaleiopu sank back squelched
County Tax Bill.
The House went into committee OF
the whole on Senate Bill 1879, which
IS to allow the counties to raise taxes
of their own to the extent of a quar-