The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-12-20

Lack of money for the last two
months has compelled the board of har
Dor commissioners to lay on the table
requests from harbors for improvements
and repairs. In order that the board
will not find themselves in this predica-
ment next year, just before the legis.
lature meets, and in order to provide
funds for the necessary improvements
and repairs, James Wakefield, was APP
pointed committee of one to investi-
gate and report on tonnage tax
on all outgoing and incoming eargoes.
The board win present the data sub
mitted by Mr.. Wakefield to the cham
Der of commerce and merchants asso-
citation as well as civic and business or
carnations on the different Islands.
The report of Mr.. Wakefield is as
| follows:
''Your committee appointed to report
on revenues from Territorial wharves
beg to state as follows:
Investment.
HAfter careful investigation of avail
able data the Territory of Hawaii has
invested in wharves in Honolulu har-
Dor, and landings on the Islands of Ha-
wall, Maui, Kauai and Molokai the sum
of 81 1896, 701 80; (this total does not in
clude any portion of the sum appro-
priated for the Hilo wharf contract); of
| this sum the wharves in Honolulu har-
Dor absorb $1,247,701.59 and some
! twenty-six landings on the above
named Islands account for the balance
of $4,000.
Source of Revenue.
"-The only source of revenue from
this large investment is the collection of
a charge of two cents per ton per day on
the net registered tonnage of steamers
when actually lying alongside one of
the Territorial wharves; landings OF
wharves which are so situated or con
structed that vessels cannot be berthed
alongside, yield the Territory abso-
lutely no revenue under the present
system of charges, no matter how cost
ly the wharf may have been to the
Territory to construct and to maintain.
Actual Revenue.
"The total earnings of wharves in
., Honolulu harbor over the past year
!, from October J., 1911, to September 80,
1912, was $44.69l.lS: all landings and
wharves owned by the Territory on the
Islands of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and
Molokai yield no revenue whatever
these gross earnings show a return of
) $50 per cent on the Territory g total
wharf investments, or 1858 per cent on
the Territory's investment in Honolulu
harbor wharves alone.
Expense.
"The last legislature appropriated
the sum of $4,000 for repairs to
wharves and landings for the present
biennial period, 100000 of which was
, for the repair of wharves in Honolulu
, harbor; this sum as you are aware was
, wholly inadequate to maintain the
wharves in Honolulu harbor in a fit and
, proper condition for the traffic they
carry. 1t is safe to say that the pres
ent type of wharves and the character
of construction will absorb for repairs
! only, for some years to come, the whole
, of the gross earnings of the wharves
from the present sources of wharf rev
enues and will leave no earnings avail
able to provide for such vital charges
as interest on bonds, and sinking fund
|: for the redemption of bonds.
Source Of New Revenue.
= at is clear from the foregoing briei
: statements that the collection of add
= tional revenue from the Territory Z
Q wharves is an absolute necessity, anl
: your committee recommend that the
4 wharves be placed on a self-sustaininl
1 basis, and that a tonnage tax be i'm
T posed on all incoming and outgoing
= cargoes, sufficient in amount TO cove
= with the present revenue the following
e charges:
, 81. Maintenance and repair o.
> wharyes.
c "2. Interest on funds invested il
Territorial wharves
''3. To provide sinking fund for re
i demption of bonds, proceeds of whicl
? have been INVESTED in Terriforia
wharyes
: "There is one other possible SQUIRE
1of revenue, and that is a further eharg