The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-04-20

tiun nHs hirl
numteI of petitions we're received.
asking favorable action ON senate Biu
No. lap relating 90 sites for churches
aud religious institutions. A. the Sen.
ate has already passed the bill. che
petitions were sens To- the House, which
has the measure under consideration.
Church Site Resolution.
Senator knudsen introduced a con.
current RESOLUTION ON the same subject.
reading as follows:
Whereas. Under the customs and
laws of the former Kingdom uf Ha.
wall. certain lots and parcels Of
ground were set apart from the public
domain to be occupied by schools and
churches, or for other religious or
burial purposes. the title TO such lots
being retained in the government;
Whereas. with the changed condi-
tion of today 1t Is not desirable To
maintain government connection with
any church or religious organization
whatsoever. and the persons or rellg.
ious societies controlling such sites
have expressed the desire that title TO
the lots so occupied be vested in the
appropriate persons or societies; there.
fore. be IL
Resolved by the Senate. the House
of Representatives OF the Territory OF
Hawaii concurring, That It is the sense
of the Legislature that whenever the
Governor OF the Territory of Hawaii
shall be satisfied after an examinatio
into the available facts that. any per.
sons or religious societies, whether the
same are incorporated or not, have
been and are in the occupation for re.
ligious purposes. of any lots. pieces or
parcels OF public land as church sites
or cemeteries, quitclaim deed, for
a nominal consideration, be executed
by the appropriate officers releasing
all right, title and interest of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii or of any political
subdivision thereof, in and to such
lands; and be It further
Resolved. That II is the sense of
this Legislature that all expenses con
nected with such examinations should
: be borne by the applicants for such
quitclaim deeds.'
Special Tax Bill.
The Judiciary Committee presented
a report on Senate Bill No. 139 impos.
ing a special tax of one-quarter of one
per cent. to meet the expenses of
county improvements, in an amended
form. The report submits a number
of changes in the measure designed
to meet the objections that have been
raised to some of the provisions. The
report was ordered to be printed.
;. Senate Bill No. 141, taxing property
holders for the cost OF the sewers laid
in the past, was taken up for consid.
Grafton on third reading.
1t is the measure that was opposed
by Senator Smith Saturday, and which
he declared was unjust and would re-
suit in infiicting a great hardship on
the property-holders of Honolulu.
Senator Moore defended the provi-
sions of the bill yesterday, declaring
that it was a progressive step, and
would be of material assistance in
solving the financial problems that
confront The Territory.
Senator Chillingworth declared that
a rather serious question was involved
in the bill, and that it seemed to sug-
gest double taxation. He added that
he was in doubt about the provisions
of the measure and declared that the |
Senate should consider the provisions /
of the bill very carefully.
Senators Mccarthy and Fairchild
favored the passage of the bill, main
tanning that it was simply making the
people who have profted by the sewer
system pay the Territory for lis cost.
Senator Klnudsen denied that the
problem of double taxation was in.
volved and maintained that the bill
followed OPT the practice in California.
w. o. Smiths Views.
s President Smith took the floor and
argued against the passage of the bill. !
He insisted that it was manifestly I'M I
just, and that about $5S,000 would be
collec ed yearly from present property !
holders on the past cost of sewers in
addition to the expense of maintenance.
Senator Smith doubted the right of the |
Legislature to infict ON the properly |
holders of the present the cost of any
public improvement carried out in the
past.
He stated that the whole principle
involved was wrong and that the pro-
posal to assess property on the cost of ,
past sewer construction by the frontage
WAS so manifestly unfair that it was
not entitled to serious consideration.
Makekau argued against the bill, and |
seconded Senator Smith s motion for in
definite postponement. The motion was
lost, Senators Baker, Coelho, Faifchild,
Knudsen, Mccarthy, Moore, Quinn,
Robinson and Woods voting against the
indefinite postponement. The motion to
pass the bill on second reading was
then carried.
Notification was received from the
House, stating that it had failed to con
eur in the Senate amendments to the
appropriation bill. President Smith
named Senators Fairchild, Mccarthy,
Chillingworth, Kalama and Makekau Us
members of the conference committed.
Senator Mccarthy asked to be ex-
cused, suggesting Senator Moore in his
stead, but President Smith declined to
make any change in the personnel of
the committee.
Senator Bakers bill, providing for
specific tax of ten cents per acre upon
all land Irrespective of value, was taken
up on second reading. Baker made
lengthy speech in advocacy of his bill,
and cOntended that the report of the
Judiciary Committee, declaring such
bill in opposition to the Constitution of
the United States should not be ac-
cepted as final
/