The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1919-05-06
THE NEW LAWS
IN A NUT SHELL

By the courtesy of Senator c. A.
Rice, we are able to give an intelligent
outline of some of the important legis-
lation accomplished at the recent
session of the legislature, especially
such as affects Kauai.
In the line of homestead legislation,
after a great deal of discussion and
contention to and fro, the bill finally
passed petitioning Congress in Wash
ington to amend the Organic Act by
giving the local administration dis
cretion to hold out 20 per cent of any
given tract so that it may be leased to
the plantations.
This discretion is to be placed in
the hands of commission to consist
of the Governor, the Land Commits
sioner and the Land Board.
This same commission is to exer
else discretion as to the fitness of the
candidate for homesteading, to the end
that inefficient and incapable candi-
dates, and adventurous spectators
may be eliminated.
The Bill fixing a nominal price OH
homesteads, brought in by Senator
Coney, after various changes, finally
developed into fifty per cent of the full
appraised value of the land, to which
in some cases, the cost of the home
stead roads might be added.
After many ups and downs the Farm
Loan Act was passed. The substance
of which is that the Government may
loan to the homesteader up to so per
cent of the paid up value of his land
and improvements, to maximum
of $4,000 at per cent, on the basis of
10 years loan.
A fund shall be created for this
purpose by setting aside 20 per cent
of the Government leases and 33 1-3
per cent of the sale of homesteads.
Fifteen thousand dollars was ap-
propriated for homestead roads and
bridges for the Kuamoo tract-that
| about Pun Pilo, beyond the second
| Wailua-on which it is expected the
drawings will be made in October.
Also an appropriation for a school for
| this section.
propriated for matchmaking the road
up through the homesteads back of the
| Kapaa school, and $4,000 for the
same purpose for the road running up
back of the Kapaa village. Three
thousand dollars was granted for
matchmaking at Anahola, and $4,000
at Kalaheo.
Thirty thousand dollars was secured
out of the loan fund for the Puu ka
Pele road to the intent that We may
have good macadamized road to thai
region.
The amount for the Lihue schoo
was increased to $4,000.
The Kapaa landing is assured, with
$1S2, 900, and there is an appropriation
of 100000 for terminal facilities fol
Nawilwili Harbor, and $1O,9 900 for the
condemnation and purchase of Al
acres of the Kanoa estate property ad
joining the harbor.
A bill was passed providing for {
special. tax levy on Kauai property
valuations to amount to 100000 veal
for four years for necessary improve
ments at the Maheiona Hospital. This
will mean an addition to our tax rat,
of about 0.13 per cent. This. it is sup
posed will put the institution in gooC
shape.
In addition to this extra taxation
there will have to be very materia
increase of the rate to meet the in
crease of teachers salaries, which will
have to be retroactive in a measur,
to cover the last quarter of the cur
rent year. This will bring our rat
up to over 2 per cent.
The blue Sky Law" was passed, bu
/ in such a badly mangled and amende,
: form that it will be shorn of much o
, its usefulness.