Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-24
KAIMUK MEETING
BRINGS OUT GOOD
TAXATION TALKS

The Kaimuh meeting on assessment
and sidewalks last night brought out
residents from all over the district.
There was a lively discussion OF the
first question, ehciting opinions on
general as we'll as particular problems
Of taxation, also on systems of local
government. ,-r
J. w. Pratt, chairman OF the spe-
cial committee appointed on local as
sessments at the December meeting of
the Improvement club, being called
upon by President Fiddes to report. :
told of the increase in assessed yalu-
atoms last year and gave his views
regarding the reduction that should
be made this year to correspond with
the general shrinkage of commercial j
values. From his personal observa-
ton in the real estate business the
past year, he was able to show that
Kaimuki property could not be sold at
prices equal to the 1913 assessed val
uation. There were one or two excep-
tions, he said, where probably some
peculiar consideration ruled in which
property a few blocks from the Wal
alae road, or the ear line. was sold
at a price about equal to the tax palu-
alton of lots on the car line front
age. While he had stated at the regu-
lar meeting of the club that he con-
sidered the depreciation in value this
year amounted to Is per cent. he be-
lieved that reduction of 10 to Is per
cent upon the tax returns would be
fair.
"A. F. Cooke, backed by others. pre-
scented the proposition that general
taxation ought to be reduced in some
proportion to the direct burden OF road /
building placed on property owners
by the frontage tax Mr.. Pratt, who
ayowed himself opposed to the front
age tax, believed that what would
happen following the old system OF
penalizing taxpayers for improving
their property be that the
good road frontage for which a man
paid through that tax would be noted
by the assessor as additional taxable
value. At different points in the dis
cussion he declared himself in favor
of the old system OF 1 per cent taxa.
ton on property, the governing author.
titles to adjust their expenditures to
the revenue derivable from that de.
gree Of taxation. He also maintained
that It would have been better If Ha- |
wall had continued under the cen
tralized system of government.
Others taking part in the discus |
sion were Ed Towse, e. F. Melanphy, !
~ 4 NFar,.f1l5 w d rr1x.1,,. 4 RI nj Il
RE. A. f Clark and D. L. Logan
The following resolution. moved by
Secretary Logan and seconded By Cap
tain Foster. was unanimously carried:
Resolved: That the special com.
mittee on assessment be continued
In Office, with instructions to obtain |
the fairest assessment possible of all |
the property in this district.
Mr., Pratt cordially accepted the |
commission, announcing that he would |
be at the service of taxpayers of the
district, for advice and consultation. |
each day until the final date of filing
returns. from to 4 o'clock in the
afternoon.
Afterward the Waialae sidewalk
matter was taken up, Supervisor Pet
rie, chairman of the municipal road
committee, informing the meeting of /
the status of the ordinance. AS preyi-
ously stated In this paper, hitch |
has occurred in the procedure, from a
question raised by the Rapid Transit
Company regarding the width Of the |
sidewalk on the mauka side. If made |
ten feet, Superintendent Ballentyne |
represented, it would involve the re-
moval of the power and telephone line |
poles to a position dangerously near
the cars, also make an awkward step
for passengers between curbIine and
car footboard. III Vii.
Mr.. Petrie wanted 10-foot sidewalks |
on both sides OF the roadway chiefly |
because the width of roadway to be |
maintained would be reduced thereby. |
However, he finally stated that he
would be inclined to agree with the |
wishes of the district as they might |
be expressed So -. III.
HI G. Davis, Pratt, Towse, Foster
and Logan took part in the discus
sion, and on motion of J. F. Child
the matter was ordered made a spe- |
cial order of business for next regular |
meeting 81.