The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-02-05
0FFICERS' AG10y I.
War Department Rules That
They Are Liable 70 Taxation.
Hawaii Courts Sustained

L ftaWNh eott % Nuot0utgu 3H
Pfivately owned adtohnobiles Of army
Ofiecrs are liable 10 taxation aecorhinb
10 the distoh Of the war dapaftment al
lset forth ID Bdiietins 10. cdlscs or which
haze just reached. Honolulu.
This pro6ouncement settles definitely
the question that has aaitated the legis.
lat,ite and the eQprtsof Hawaii, not TO
nienfion the ONCE Of the Governor.
Previous 70 tho last session Of the
| legislature the Governor, SO he stated,
ordered the treasurer and tho tar as
SCISSOR not to enforce tho law as II
affected army officers who owned alto.
mobiles. This matter was brought to
the attention of the Legislature and
Btonght down storm OF indignation
upon the gubernatoriaI head. The Gov
ernor was severely criticized for in.
structihg a subordinate to enforce the
law. g' rrf 49,
On top Of this, however, the Governor
tried TO get the; legislature to pass a
law specifically exempting automobiles
owned by army officers from taxation.
The Legislature refused to do any such
thing. 5 Wa n Sr'@s
A test case was taken 70 the courts
by an officer who eontended that he
ought not TO pay taxes on his machine.
The courts decided against him,
And now comes the war department
and clinehes the decision. IT rules that
only officially owned and operated an.
tomobiles are exempt from state or
territorial license requirements and do
not have TO pay the fees involved in
the ownership Of automobiles,
t'Such Vehicles come strictly within
the laws and regulations as established
by state or other local authorities, and
the use thereon Of tags marked u. g.
A. or ~. 8. Army Is prohibited, -
saws the, bulletin. tx. ,g NJ
registration Of motor vehicles owned
by the United States, All officers Of the
army here have been instructed TO take
particular note OF the following:
sit Is not necessary TO procure such
license to cover the use Of n motor We.
hicIe owned by the government, or
operated exclusively by officers OF EN-.
ployes Of the governments for official
purposes only. The use Of public funds
for the procurement Of any license for
a motor vehicle, or for purchase Of
Identification tags supplied by civil au.
thoritics, Is hereby prohibited. II, for
their owl, eonvenienee local officials are
willing to grant license and furnish
suitable, State Identification tags or
plates, without charge, in no way in
yolving an expenditure, the SAME will
be accepted and placed in nse with the
vehicle for which issued, along with the
plates Furnished BY the govefnment
All motor vehicles owned by the
government and operated exclusively
BY officers or employees Of the govern
nfcnt, for Official use in the military
service, will have attached to them
metal plates bearing an Inscription
reading as follows: For the quarter
master corps Tor other corps Of depart,
ment)-'Q.M.c,l LISA, No. -. Z. Il
Great care will be taken to observe
regulations as to speed and as to rules
OF the road, and all concerned win ac-
quaint Themselves with these regula.
lions. ~, pE@ Z. at
4 "If, while in use on ohicial business,
ID motor vehicle be stopped by police
ofieer, or II otherwise there be inter.
ference by State or other local authori.
ties because Of failure TO make regis.
tration and pay such special tax, the
officer or employe should give fun in
formation as to the ownership and use
Of the vehicle, and the Instruction. I'M
der which operated, and should cour-
teoasly request that there be no fur
tier interference. In case measures are
then resofted to by State or local au-
thofities 70 obstruct or prevent the
proper use of such agencies or instru.
mentaIities Of the United States, full
report will at once be made 20 the adj
jutant general Of the army, with the
view Of submittiDg the matter to, the
department Of justice for such legal ac.
ti6n as II may deem necessary to pro
tect and make clear the rights Of the
United states In that regards 4lt35t :
The FOREGOING ihstructions do not ap-
ply TO kdt6mobtIes owned BY Officers
and others In the military service which
are used for private purposeA Such
vehicles come strictly within the laws
and regulations as estabiished by state
or other local authofities, and the use
thereon Of tags marked .tU.s.A." or
"U.s Army a pFohibtted. ~.