The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-12-12
Believes That City Is Rich Enough
To Pay For Necessary I'm
provements At Once
STANDS FOR RETIREMENT"
AT ANY REASONABLE COST
Wants Honolulu To Keep Abreast
Or a Little Ahead Of Demands
For Improvement

Joel {. Cohen, who recently announc.
ed that he is Republican candidate
for the office of mayor, in an interview
yesterday stated that he was in favor
OF bond issue if IL is shown that this
Is the best and quickest method of get.
ting money for the improvements which
are so badly needed by the city.
When approached on the subject Mr..
Cohen admitted that he was little
reluctant to talk and gave as his ex.
euse the feet that he had not piyen
II the study that it deserved. He was
out and out in favor of improvemen ts,
however, and declared that they could
not como too soon TO keep pace with
the progress and prosperity Of the city.
He declared that the city was in n
transition period where il would have
to turn its back on all piddling policies
and squarely face the fact that Homo
lulu had reached n point when IL would
nave to Keep pace with all forward.
looking communities in the matter of
civic development.
Too Rich For Bonds ..... "
~ really haven't given the subject
OF bond issue sufficient thought 10
make statement at this time, y said
M. Cohen, for the reason that have
always considered Honolulu such a rich
city as not to require a bond issue.
| However, if a bond issue is necessary
to get the improvements that the city
SURELY needs, l am in favor of such an
issue. Furthermore, a city so wealthy
as Honolulu can easily afford to nav
the interest on a bond issue, lust as IL
could afford to pay raise in the tax
rate. !
what I am chiefly interested in in
the development of the city. We need
our roads fixed. Much street improve
ment should be and will be done. Sew.
erage is undoubtedly one of the most
important facts in a city You remem-
Der the Drainman, the fellow in A mod.
err play whose work was all down in
the dirt under the fashionable church Z
wen, this character, apparently the
most Insignificant in the cast, became
the most important figure in the de-
nohment of the drama, II was found
that his despised labors saved the
community from an epidemic. II Ii the
same with sewers. As long as we have
cities we must have sewers. On them
depends the health of the community
And l believe that Honolulu should
have the best sewer system that money
\ can buy. And in some localities we
need them as quickly as they can be
put in. =
Must Have Water System
"The same Is true of water.
Eventually we must have a modern
wafer system, a system that will take
in consideration the future growth in
population, system that will be ahead
Of such growth and not behind II. No
r"ter is too good for the people Of
Honolulu and If it is necessary TO
spend money to give this city absolute.
~ pure water, l believe in spending Il.
cone Of the arguments put forward
by the proponents of the bonds is that
the sewer and water mains should be
put in either before or simultaneously
with the improvement of streets and
Dads. This is an argument that can I
he easily answered. 1t is almost an
axiom that it is good business and
good economy TO get the mains down
before the street is permanently paved.
Dollars And Cents
But the entire matter gets down 10
basis of dollars and cents. Does
Honolulu want these improveme nj :
'adly enough to pay the interest on the
100000 which are asked by the bond
ssueF Can Honolulu get these i'm.
rrovcments quickly by another method Z
"These are the questions that the
akpayers are asked to answer. I am
rot prepared to give final answer at
his time. But / am prepared to say
hat ! am heartily in favor of getting
he improvements started and finished
.siquickly as possible and am hearth.
" in favor Of whatever method is con.
Sidcred the best, If the work win be
ragged along by gradual raising of
the tax rate then l am in favor Of the
hohds. If the tax rate would have to
70 raised so high as to cause wide
'ptcad objection to such an increase
md the issuance of bonds will solve
The problem, then ] am heartily In
favor of the bonds. If the work can
De done without delay best by issuing
bonds, then let US vote for bonds and
tor, enough money TO keep Us abreast
II not in advance Of the growing needs
Of the city. -
/ "First, last and all the time / am
in favor of the improvements and In
favor OF the bonds If that is the best
and quickest way to get il done. !
believe in doing business on cash
basis whenever it is possible, but as !
said before, Honolulu is rich enough
to stand either raise ID taxes or pay
the interest on the honda -