Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-04
MAYORS MESSAGE URGES FRONTAGE
TAX Law BE APPLIED; CITY NEEDS

ments in the district OF Honolulu. and
to assess and collect the cost VI same
from the property benefited thereby
Similar provision was made for the
opening and widening OF streets in
said district In either case the prop
erty owners may take the initiative.
BY this wise legislation much Of the
increased expenditure OF orr city gov
eminent may be overcome. and | rec
ummend the enforcement of such acts.
The operation Of such laws may not
prove entirely satisfactory but this
can be remedied by proper legislative
action.
II should be borne in mind that
roads are not revenue producing. On
the contrary, they entail enormous and
continuous expense for maintenance.
And in the case OF our belt road. un,
less the same is properly kept up IL
will not last the life of the bonds is
sued for its construction. Care must
be taken net to squander the substance
Of our successors in lavish eXpendi,
lures and neglect to preserve for them
what we are 20 enjoy and they are TO
pay for.
WATER AND SEWER WORKS.
The water and sewer works were
June with the obligation to meet the
interest and sinking fund on the bonds
which they represent. These works
have been considerably extended.
There is, however, pressing need of
further extensions and improvements
in the waterwOrks in order to reduce
the cost of operation, afford greater
protection from fire, reduce insurance
rates, and keep pace with the needs of
our rapidly growing metropolis. There
Is even greater need of the extension
Of the sewer system for sanitary rea-
sons
The water and sewer works are not
yet on a satisfactory financial basis.
nor can they be until the rates are
regulated in business-like way. With
this end in view meters are being in
stalled to determine the supply, and
consumers meters are being installed
as rapidly as practicable to determine
the amount used.
Some objection has been raised to
the adoption of the meter system, but
this is gradually disappearing as the
matter becomes better understood. I'm.
der the flat rate system there is great
waste and consequent cost of mainte-
nance. not only in pumping water but
in pumping sewerage, which Is greatly
increased by reason of extravaganza
In, he
Unless the cost is reduced, the rates
must be raised in order to meet the
interest and sinking fund on the
bonds which these works represent,
or else the growing needs of the city
cannot be met. The only way to pre-.
vent waste is to induce each user to
act as his own inspector by making it
worth his while to do so by means
of the meter system There is no
more reason why water should be sup
piled without measurement than there
is why gas or electricity should be
so supplied. The flat rate system COM
pels those who are careful to pay the
bills Of those who are Wasteful. BY
the use OF meters the cost can be re-
duced to minimum and the prices
fixed so as Just to pay the Co.'S. Fur.
thermore, the city is largely depend
ent on an artesian supply, which is
gradually falling and will necessarily
be drawn upon more largely in the
future. Unless this is conserved, the
city may find itself at no distant date
with wholly inadequate water supply
IL would probably be advisable to
discontinue sewer rates and fix the wa
ter rates so as to bear the cost Of
both the water and sewer systems. Al.
though the sewer rates do not amount
to a great deal, II is somewhat diff.
cult to collect them. The water and
sewer systems. should be constructed
and operated in conjunction with each
other.
Under the terms of the transfer of
the water and sewer works to the city
and county. all revenues derived from
said works shall be paid into the treas.
ury of the territory. or of said city and
county, and there held for certain spe.
cifc purposes. The act making this
transfer should be amended in order
to put the water and sewer works on
an independent, self-sustaining basis.
and | urge that the present board of