The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-04-20

WHOLE MATTER GOES TO
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Body Favors House Bin Which
Gives Part Of Levy To Be
Spent In This District

| ""NFNNNFA|NA
to pay much heavier taxes next year,
and for several years thereafter, than
they are now paying, for the purpose
Of demonstrating the roads Of the isl.
and, IL the opinion Of majority Of
the members Of the chamber Of com
merce present at the meeting yester.
day carries weight with the members
Of the legislature.
Two motions dealing with the sub.
iect were carried and although they
we're later superseded by another mo
tion to refer the whole matter to the
Legislative committee Of the chamber,
they expressed the opinion Of the ma.
iority.
One motion, proposed by w. r. Far
fington, was that the chamber 20 on
record as favoring a specific tax tc
provide for q comprehensive scheme Of
permanent roads. This was carried
without dissent Another motion, how
syer which went more definitely into
thekmatfer, met with strong opposition
and was carried only by vote Of four
teen 20 twelve. This was that the
chamber 20 on record as favoring that
part Of House Bill 436, now before the
legislature, which provides for an adi
ditional tax for money to be spent in
the district of Honolulu for roads.
II was stated that passage Of this
bill would bring the tax rate Of Homo.
lulu in 1918 20 approximately 1.Sg.
The road matter waa brought up BY
Mr.. burlington, who made an extended
address in which he pointed out the
absolute necessity Of this city com
pletely reconstructing Its road plant
The present systemy be said, is all shot
i = pieces Money 1asi been thrown
away for years In bidding roads that
10 not last. stWe have hddled along
for years." he said, q and the net re-
suit is that we have a road plant that
Is all shot to pieces.
"There Is not today'a comprehensive
road building program before any
branch Of the government. Our roads
are a disgrace to the city and to every
one Of u.s. |"
A lively discussion. tnsned following
burlington . address, The genera
opinion appeared to be that Honolulu
II willing to spend money for roads
but wants to know that IL Is going Il
| get something for its money. The chief
| question appeared to be not whether
taxes shall be raised to provide decent
roads, but how much they shall b
raised
House Bill 436, introduced by Repre-
sentative Lorrin Andrews, represent.
the views of the Automobile Club. II
provides that the Honolulu tax assessor
shall be directed to add each year fol
four years commencing July !, 1917
70 the total tax rate otherwise provid
ed a further rate Of one and six-tenthi
mills, the proceeds to be set aside in Z
highway maintenance fund and to b.
appropriated by the supervisors solel,
for the maintenance and repair 81
highways in the City and County Of
Honolulu. This additional tax is ex
,ected to provide $4,000 year To-
four years.
In addition to the special tax above
mentioned, the bill provides for an
,ther additional tax Of one and nine
tenths mills, the proceeds TO be nset
solely for the permanent improvement
| If highways in the district of Homo
lum and upon the belt road.
But the city will have even NOR,
money TO spend ON roads than TIL
above figures indicate, the other bill II
the legislature provides for giving tn
iity and county one per cent of tn
general taxes, instead of only two
thirds of one per cent as at present
There appeared to be considerabl
confusion in the minds Of the member
Of the chamber as 70 just how mucl
money the city and county would hav
TO spend. Some were fearful that !
the taxes were raised too high, Their
would be more than could be used i
advantage.
Finally, on motion Of f.. @. Anterior
after the motions above mentioned hal
been adopted, it was decided to refe
the whole matter Of roads and In
creased taxes to a committee CONSISTING
of committee of the Automobile Cluf
the chairman Of the road committee 0
the board OF supervisors and the legii
latiye committee Of the chamber 0
. lcOmmerce,