The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1921-11-22

afternoon, the Kauai Chamber of
Commerce endorsed the proposed
row wharf toll program. The vote
was not unanimous, however, some
members feeling that the tolls
would work unnecessary hardships on
the people of Kauai and the other
outer islands.
letter from the superintendent
of public works, Lyman II. Bigelow.
was read, calling the Kauai cham
bers attention to the proposed tolls.
President Wishard stated to the
meeting that the tolls were published
in the Garden Island of November
18th. Everyone had read and studied
them and was prepared 10 air his
opinion on them.
sroadbent Makes Comparisons.
E. II. w. Broadbent reported ,o
the meeting that he had compared
the tolls proposed by government with
those charged by private cnterpris-
es at Ahukini and Port Allen and
that the government charge would
be much less. H. d. Sloggett called
the chambers attention to the fact
that when foreign freight is brough,
into Honolulu toll is collected in
town. Then when the same goods are
shipped on to Kauai another toll is
levied. This, he said. works a hard.
ship on the outside islands, or in
other Words places a penalty upon
anyone that lives outside of Homo
lulu.
Six Millions in Wharves.
Senator c. A. Rice explained to
the chamber that the government
has already spent three million dol
lars on territorial wharves. A like
amount is to be spent in the future.
Last year the territory had to spend
forty-six thousand dollars in addi.
ton to the income from the wharves
in maintaining and keeping them fit
for service. And the $4,000 did
rot include any interest on the sink
ing fund
At this point, the chambers pres
ident suggested that the problem be
approached from two angles. 1t
should first be decided whether the
principle is right or not, and then,
if it is right, the meeting must de-
eide whether the amount of the
tolls are proper.
The Bill Endorsed.
A. Englehard moved that the the
ory of the tolls is correct and that
the Kauai Chamber of Commerce
endorse it. His motion was second
ed by w. H. Rice Jr.
A half dozen men were ready
when the president called for COM
ments. Frank Crawford said that he
did not believe the toll is any fair
er than the old fashioned road or
bridge tolls were. He showed that
territorial wharves are different from
state wharves, where tolls are charg-
ed, in that the entire territory is
taxed for wharf in any part of the
islands. But if California builds a
wharf she pays for it herself. A
dozen other places may ship goods
from it however So, it is only fair
that the other states should have to
help California with her burden.
Senator Rice pointed out that if
this toll is not passed additional
direct taxes will have to be levied
to keep up and maintain the wharv-
es. And w. II. Rice Jr. said that he
believed that by this tax, the burden
of keeping up the wharves would be
partly shifted to aliens who use
the wharves as much as anyone else.
A. G. Clutterbuck said that this
toll, small as it is, amounts to
great deal to retailers and whole
salers of commodities in everyday
use. The dealers have to pass that
buck believed that a small direct
tax would be better distributed and
much fairer.
After all the members had express
ed their opinions, President Wishard
put the question. Evidently none
had been much moved by anyone
else's arguments. The motion was
carried but with the votes in about !
the same proportion as the men orig |
inally, pro and con, had been num-
bered
A Uniform Toll.
1t was then moved by e. II. w.
Broadbent that the Kauai Chamber
Of Commerce recommend to the
Board of Harbor Commissioners that
all goods exported from the islands