Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-21
Lane POINTS OUT
CITY'S NEED OF
MORE READY Cash
Report to Legislature Deals
With Money Problem; Also
Wants labor Commission

The government cannot, any more
than q private enterprise. be success
fully financed on q small surplus
with which 10 meet the absolutely
Necessary increase In expenditures.
This Is one OF the most pertinent
sentences in the report Of Mayor John
G. Lane, sent 10 the legislature to-
day.
The need OF sufficient funds to con-
duet the affairs OF the city and coun.
ty OF Honolulu as the mayor and
board of supervisors desire that II
should be conducted naturally seems
TO the mayor the most important prob
lem for solution by remedial legisla-
ton. After saying that the city gov
eminent has passed the experimental
stage he proceeds at once to that sub
Jet and dwells upon II at some
length.
Needs Greater Than Means
The gap between needs and means
seems ever to widen, the mayor says,
and is seldom bridged satisfactorily,
The total income for the year 1915
was totally inadequate TO meet the
expenditures for that year and the
same IS true Of this year. He then
takes mp the matter OF needed ex-
penditares. He treats Of bonded in.
dcbtedness taken over with the wa
Ter department. frontage bonds and
the various city funds In order and
points out how the cash basis fund
tends 10 add to the inadeQuacy
Of funds available for general
nse by the board of supervisors.
Change Taxation Law
As TO taxation the report says that
under the present law. in spite Of the
fact that the county lie growing rap.
idly thereby increasing the necessary
functions OF the government, the total
income with which 10 meet the re.
quirements for increased expenditures
does not increase proportionately
since the tax rate remains the same.
He asks that the prescribed limit be
raised.
He iwelt briefly on the proposed
city charter, need of funds for pay.
ment of expenses of convention and on
bon1 Issues, telling especially Of the
EINLliDH IIUL 10 OCiuS HOtQ tOooe
Frontage Tax Needs Changes
Taxing up the matter Of public i'm.
proponents and the frontage tax law
he points out defects In that law. Pro-
vision should be made for mainten-
ance and repairs without resort to
snen expensive proceedings; the city
Is obliged TO pay all expenses on all
public lands, including that owned by
the territory and those lands exempt
ed from territorial taxation; the con-
. tractor is required to furnish bond
IN the amount Of the bid while in ter
rItorial work bond In only half the
amount IS required.
AS % the desirability Of acquiring a
site for city hall he writes briefly
but iTnperatiyely.
He speaks OF the dual government
OF mayor and supervisors with the for
mer having no vote.
As 70 the civil service he believes
The commission las done good work
and heartily approves OF the merit
system.
He speaks of the necessity Of the
work being done by the water commits
sion and the value to the community
OF the report which II will render.
The provision Of tie school law
which requires a report to the auditor
OF sums unexpended and deduction
therefor in the following year the
mayor says destroys the good effect
0f the law generally.
Wants Labor comnisslon
Public health and the emergency
hospital follow In order and then
comes one OF the most important Of
his recommendation. q labor COM
mission. He points out that Honolulu
has been Fortunate in avoiding labor
wars generally but refers to the steve
dores' strike Of a few months since
and that much good in the future
might be accomplished by such a
commission should similar conditions
arise. The commission should have
broad powers to include the settle
ment OF disputes and other matters