Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-06
TELLS Why ARMY
OFFICERS AUTOS
were NOT TAXED
Assessor Wilder Says They
Wanted Chance 10 Appear
Before Legislature

A bit of preliminary explanation in
answer to Speaker II. L. Holstetn's
resolution directing the finance COM
mittee Of the house to find out Why:
automobile taxes have not been col
lected from army officers residing on
this island, was voiced at meeting
of the committee yesterday afternoon
by Tax Assessor c. T. Wilder.
Holstein's claim is that, although
the supreme court has ruled that
army officers must pay their auto
taxes as well as civilians, for
nearly two years no attempt has been,
made to collect the taxes. He de-
clared on the floor of the house that
there is some power within the gov
eminent" that is directly responsible
Tor this alleged action on the part or
the collectors OF revenue. =
Officers Wanted Time Fl
Tax Assessor Wilder said that some
time ago the judge advocate Of the
army had come to him and suggested
that the army officers owning autos
he given little leeway until such time
as they might put their grievance be
fore the legislature-presumably In
the form of measure seeking to ex.
empt army officers from having -
lay their automobile taxes. s
A few days ago Representative Lor.
rim Andrews introLlced bill to e&.
empt the officers, his ground being, az
already outlined in the StarBulletin.
that officers are neither tourists
or permanent residents, but really
sues.s, as they are stationed here alt
the way from one to three years, and
liable to assignment back to the main.
land at any time.
Wilder went on to say that, after
his talk with the judge advocate, he
held conference with the governor.
The governor explained Wilder,
said to me 1t looks very small to
collect taxes against army officers
when am trying to get the federal
government to spend eight millions on
roads here,
Il then asked the governor Do you
want TO write me a'letter and tell me
what 70 dot
aHs replied. Do you think am
ssnsekens Wanted 70 Know
ATTORNEY r w. Brecipns. who had
asked .the questions which brought
forth these statements from Wilder,
and who said he was present In the
interest Of Speaker Holstein, said,
after Wilder had made the last state.
mefit:
"That Is ali want to know"
Wilder added that he had not con.
ferred with the governor on the Qnes.
ton since and that this was the only
conversation he had ever had with the
governor on this question.
The tax assessor went on TO say
that the Judge advocate had prepared
q list Of all army officers owning au.
tcmobiles, explaining that If these
taxes could not be collected at some
time from the officers themselves, the
territory could secure the money
through Washington
Il went 10 see Treasurer c. J. Nc.
Carthy and he offered to take the
responsibility on his own shoulders,
said Wilder, In substance. These OF.
ficers wanted a chance to be heard
before the legislature and We decided
to give them the chance
Wilder explained that II the army
officers do not pay their taxes If the
bill to exempt them is killed In. the
legislature the money can be secured
from the government.
Wilder 10 Puzzled
This question OF taxing the auto
mobiles Of army officers always has
been more or less Of q puzzle to me,
declared the assessor. Have ! the
right to go into United States milf
tary reservation and take out mans
car? Has the territory Jurisdiction
over the military posts? Have we
right to seize officers machines on
the road? Officers owing such ma.
chimes might be under orders to so
somewhere
The finance committee still has Hol.
stems resolution under consideration
but when II viii report out is not
known.