The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-02-17


piled and grown, they for the most
part have been, and WIN for some
years continue to be- exempt from
taxation, as is also the case with new
railroads. In time there may be de-
cided increase in the aggregate reven-
ues at present rates, but we have now
to consider the present.
There are many ways In which rev.
enues may be increased without un-
due severity and in which expendi-
lures may be reduced-by cutting out
or reducing appropriations, by reor-
CARNATIONS, by combinations OF dill
ferent services and the enactment of
laws which will sooner or later obvi-
ate the necessity in whole or in part
of expenditures for certain objects. A
number of these will he suggested I'M
der other heads in this message. 9th
ers will appear in the estimates.
Division of Revenues Between Ter
ritory and Counties.-There is a nat
ural tendency to seek for the coun-
ties larger and larger shares of the
revenues, and it will require fortitude
to withstand this tendency except in
so far as the facts warrant. Thus far,
Notwithstanding a steady decrease in
revenues during the period of county
government, the counties have receiv-
ed a larger amount each successive
year. the increase being at the rate
of more than 100000 a year. namely,
$1,OO7, 31O.41 in the fiscal year 1906,
$1,O47S4L39 in 1907 and 81 ,O91 ,32S. SO
in 1908, and the natural increase for
the current year will probably be at
least as much. These amounts, it is
submitted, are larger in proportion
to needs than they should be. They
certainly should not be increased
without a transfer of needs from the
| Territory to the counties. These
amounts are exclusive of other minor
! sources of revenue and of the equip
ment for road construction and re-
pair and other purposes which have
been turned over to the counties by
the Territory, and the service of pris-
oners which goes in the main to the
counties, although the Territory bears
most of the expense of prison mainte-
nance; moreover, the counties have
the advantage of being able to ex-
pend their funds as they deem best
while the territorial executive is bound
by specific appropriations for differ
ent objects A saving in expense
could be effected if some of these ap-
preparations should be combined into
lump sums, giving the heads of de-
partments wider discretion so that
they might use the money to best ad-
vantage, the aggregate being limited
as effectually as at present. This is
now the practice to some extent.
After the payments to the counties
there is left for the Territory little
more than a million and half dol
lars years, of which more than
. 100000 goes for interest on the public
debt, sinking fund and legislative ex-
nenses. OF the remainder more than
and public health, leaving only little
more than half a million dollars for
all other requirements of the Terri
tory. Out of this half million there
must come, among other things, the
salaries and expenditures for the Sec
retary's Office, with it's bureau of ar
chives; the Attorney General De-
partment, with the prison and jails;
the Treasury Department, with the
bureaus of taxes, conveyances, corpor-
ations and licenses; the Public Works
Department, covering all wharVes and
landings, water works, sewer works,
public buildings, road and bridges to
some extent, and other matters; Pub
lie Lands Department; the Survey De-
partment; the Bureau of Agriculture
and Forestry; and the entire Judiciary
Department. The territorial expenses
are largely also of a kind that will
naturally increase. AS an instance,
the steady and rapid increase of pupils
in the public schools requires con-
stantly increasing appropriations from
the mere TACT that additional teachers
must be employed and additional
buildings maintained. The issuance OF
additional bonds for public improve
ments will increase the interest pay
ment, and the issuance of bonds for
such improvements and for refundin-
purposes will necessitate a very large
increase to comply with the require
ments of the sinking fund law. The
refunding of 100000 of redeemable
bonds during the coming period for
the purpose of saving $4,000 or so a
year in interest, would require under
present laws an additional sum OF
more than 100000 year for sinking
fund
From the standpoint of the Terri
/, tory, economy may be effected by q