Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-26

on II, said Lloyd. we nnd To-Day
that the values have dropped $4,000
600. OF this $3.500, 900 has been writ
ten off on plantations alone. and the
treasurer is not sure that they viii
accept the present valuations The
tax rate, which is Sill, was made N
January, and cannot now be increas-
ed
Though the supervisors have con-
sidered retrenchment for several
weeks, il being known that they were
running behind few thousand dollars
each month, they were frank to admit
that they did not realize the grave
possibilities of the situation until last
night II was borne to them in cold
figures which they couldn't evade or
overlook A howl will go up, they
all agreed; but the fear of that didn't
stop them
Here are the three reasons given
for the present crisis:
Reduced tax assessment.
Creation of revolving fund an act
of the last legislature which re-
quires them to leave $4,000 in the
fund when they go out of Office.
High cost of school maintenance
The revolving fund is a sore To
them. Different from the other two
elements forcing on the financial pre-
dicament, they had notice of this since
the legislature adjourned last spring
! They are expected to put $40, 900 aside
each semi-annual period. In default
of doing so, they say they will be
liable on their bonds.
Agreeing that they must cut down
$4,000 In the expenses of the city
and county in the next nine months,
the first problem before the board last
might was how this should be done
whether to cut down appropriations
discriminatory, or to make a percent
! age cut of from 10 to Is per cent.
After debate, 1t was decided that the.
percentage cut would not work out
satisfactorily; and with this agreed
they decided to take up the budget
and cut right and left wherever they
| felt it possible. When at last they
stopped for the night was after
midnight then SIS 900 had been saved
for the coming semi-annual period
With proportionate cuts made for the
remaining three months of this pc
riod, the cuts are brought up to s42,-
600. not half as much as needed
II was understood, as the cuts were
made, that they would remain tenta-
tive for the night They agreed that
they should meet again this morning
and put the thing in definite shape, so
that the amendatory budget could be
introduced at the meeting Friday noon.
One thing they decided--that was
not to cut salaries. Rather than that
| II was decided to do away with po-
sitions. They do not. in any case.
expect to inform q department head
who he is or is not to discharge. but
their action is sufficiently clear to
make it plain. As an example, take
the city and county attorneys office.
They cut 1926 a month from the sal
airy allowance of that office; this is
the sum received by the first deputy
city and county attorney, p. L. Wea-
yer. In the case of garbage, $1S5 is
cut-the aggregate salaries of J. A.
Lawelawe and H K Boyd, the col
lector and assistant collector of gar.
bage fees. The clerical side of this
work is to be given to Robert Cath
cart, chief clerk of the roads depart.
ment.
Charities Are Eliminated.
i All the donations to Institutes and
charities were cut as well as that for
the Promotion Committee. Supervisor
Wolter objected to eliminating the lat,
ter appropriation. but it was caught
in the current with the others and
/, went Elimination of the Promotion
COMMITTEE represents loss to it oil
$4,000 a year; for the Leahi Home
! $4,000 year The Salvation Army
had received $500 year, the Humane
Society $500. the Shelter Home $250O
They are all eliminated. In the cases
lof the Salvation Army and the HUI
name Society. whose appropriations
| for each period are not pro rated. the
money has been already drawn for
1 this period.
j The mayor saw his entertainment
fund of $500 semf-annual period go;
and II went with his consent. The
meat and food and milk inspectors
were passed over temporarily last
night, but they were in line for the
Il dAc. 0et0uly-Hf6 QOildFS a month was
saved in police court interpreters; in
place of keeping them on salaries
they are to be paid so much a day
for their services.
Supervisor Mcclellan declared after
the meeting last night that the band
must be done away with entirely. Pa
lcheco had made a motion to this eff
feet at the first part of the meeting
but 1t was not acted on. They did
however. cut off s1470 from Its ap
preparation for the next period, but
| this they later decided was not suffi
| cient. 1t costs the municipality about
i $4,000 year for the band, Pachecc
pointed out. The city fathers seemed
ready to agree last night that the band
unjust go.
Situation, Not a Theory.
Il Speaking of the Promotion Commit
tee appropriation, Mcclellan said:
Il have fought for the FIVE years |
have been on this board to save the
Promotion Committees appropriation
but I can not fight now We have got
II - L