Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-31
TAX IRA t
CAUSE OF
CLASH
Supervisors Take Action That
the Territorial Treasurer
Sharply CiticizeS

Action taken by the board of super
Msors at a meeting which began at
noon yesterday will impose upon tax
payers of Oahu the limit tax-rate, ap-
proximately s1.11h on every hundred
dollar assessed valuation S
In spite of friendly advice and sug
gestion by the territorial treasurer, d
l.; Conkling, who pointed out how the
board could save the taxpayers almost
five cents q hundred on the rate, the
board not only decided upon an esti-
mate which Will necessitate the Inn
position Of the limit tax-rate, but wen
farther and included In this estimate
factor that the treasurer declares he
board has nothing to do with.
Treasurer Conkling this morning di,
not mince words in assertin that the
hoard has overstepped its authority
and that not only did they neglec
IN opportunity to economic on behalf
OF the taxpayers, but that the super
yisors have made an estimate that will
not be allowed to stand
Under the present tax-law, which
has been giving the supervisors con-;
siderable trouble. the supervisors mus
prepare and transmit to the tax as
SCISSOR OF this district an estimate OF
the amount o. money that must be
raised during the year by taxation for
the county In these estimates are in
clnded money for current expenses 4
money for permanent Improvement.
and money for the interest and sink
ing fund on county or city and coun
ty bonds.
IL Is over this last item that the
treasurer clashes with the supervisor.
in the matter OF their jurisdiction.
Treasurer Conkling declares that tn.
board has nothing TO do with the item
Of interest and sinking fund, and that
In making up its estimate, all the
board has to do is to combine the es,
Inmates for Items | and 2.
At its meeting yesterday noon, the
board made an estimate of SAFE, 900 foi
current expenses, $4,000 for curren
improvements and approximately s19,
600 for interest and sinking fund Tht
supervisors say they are advised b,
the county attorneys office that the.
can legally do this.
Under the tax-law, theboard, b!
holding its estimate for the first tw'
items combined down to 100000 couls
Rave reduced the tax rate to flye cents
On the dollars" said Mr.. conkling tn:
morning. -s e -, /
"The tax assessor has to assess TO
these two purposes, expenses and per
menent improvements, up to two
thirds of one per cent If the supervis
ors force him to do SO by their est.
mate, That would have made q stota I
OF $685., 900. Now the supervisors have
not only taken the limit, but hav'
gone over the limit, and they includ'
the third factor in the estimate, whic!
II is not in their province" @
Supervisor Mcclellan introduced the
resolution calling for the passage o
the estimates for the tax levy. Hi
estimatess which the remainder OF tn
board approved. ask for a total Q
S664, 4,663.23 OF this sum $475,000 ar
asked for current expenses, $4,000
for permanent improvements, and $19
66S.23 for paying the interest on tho
sinking fund debt.
The resolution went through with
out a single hitch, and the board 60
Gown to other things. Among thes'
was the receipt of the opinion of the
deputy city and county attorney, Oh
the oft-mooted question of the respon
sibility of the gas company to supply |
street lights. Mr.. Milverton decided
that the whole matter was up to the
superintendent of public works and
so informed the board.
The board also passed a resolution
providing for the correction of an er
ror in the payroll. and paying the po
lice stenographer SO. The resolu
tion also pays Interpreter Rose What
is coming to him.
Acting on sober second thought Su
pervisor Pacheco rose in his seat and
moved that the board again reconsid
er the resolution adopted early in it,
career, cutting down the salaries OF
various employees, and restore the sal
airy of $200 monthly paid to the roaC
overseer. This was passed. Nothing
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