Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-08

W is OUllSdISQ dI JuC lOTSCiOouIS Sdlc
CT any lien to bid for the property the
full amount of that lien. Thus the city
and county indirectly guarantees the
bonds In the preliminary hearings
before the supervisors 1t may be decid-
ed that the district benefited shall be
assessed so much square foot
Throughout, or separate ratesfor each
zone of such district or the basis of
assessment may be by the front foot.
The frontage tax" principle is in the
law but need not be used il the square
foot basis in any case is considered
more equitable. The supervisors Of
their own motion may start the ma
chinery Of the law going. OF neces-
sity their powers are broad and their
discretion great. The owners of 5h
per cent of the area to be assessed
may file a veto of the proposed inn
provement which veto holds good for
six months.
The owners of so per cent of an area
proposed as an assessment district can
compel the supervisors to use the pro
visions of the law.
What the City Should Pay.
These Two acts, numbers 81 and
131, are framed upon the laws apple
able to the city of Denver, and are
drafted each on the same plan. The
two were separated during their pas
sage through the last legislature for
reasons of expediency. The same
limitation which have spoken of re-
garding the street opening law, APP
plies to the street paving law-name-
ly that the assessments must not ex-
coed The value Of the special benefits
to the area within the district. Be-
cause of this limitation of law on the
power to proceed upon the local as
sessment principle, believe that the
city should pay, If at all in any case,
only that part of the cost of the street
making which is represented by the
difference between the total cost of
the improvement and the value of the
special benefits. Let me illustrate.
The special benefits to a given dis
trict around Alakea street may ex-
coed the cost of placing permanent
paving on that street from Beretania
street 10 the wharves; while the max.
ing of the extension Of Queen street
to Kapahulu latter act 81 shall have
been invoked, and the title to the new
street shall have passed to the city,
may exceed in cost the value of the
special benefits to the area, now
largely swamp and rice land, adjacent
to the new street. This difference
must be borne by the city The only
way for the supervisors to avoid the
appearance of Partially is to adopt
the principles above suggested.
Should they say we will have the city
pay so per cent of the cost in any
case, it is said at once that the bust.
ness portions of Honolulu taxed at
dollars per square foot and earning
an income to the owners thereof
would gain at the expense of the resi-
dence portions taxed at few cents a
square foot and earning no income for
the owners. Even if it is possible to
work out scheme to equitably settle |
these differences and others that may
arise, say beteween main highways !
and cross streets, there is not to be !
money enough in the city's treasury !;
to permit the expenditure of any
funds therefrom for new streets and |
permanent paving except that which |
by law, as above indicated, will have |
20 be paid. base this statement on |
he supposition that we are going to !
make a real American city out of
What we now have. |
City Must Get Ready. G