Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 205, 7 September 1894 — An Abnormal Condition. [ARTICLE]

An Abnormal Condition.

Tbat a wave of * * bard iimea” bas swept all over the world dnring tbe Iast years ia an establish ed fact and tbat Hawaii to-day is feeling the effects of it is nndeniable. Wbere tbis conntry makee an exception is tbe nnwilIinguess of tbe commnnity to cbange their mode cf living dnring tbe lean years from tbat jostified and proper dnring tbe fat years. Salaries and wages and revenues generally bave been decreased in Honolnln during tbe last year bnt the eipenae of liv»ng seems to be eiactly tbe same as formerly. A large nnmber of bouses are sUnding empty yet the owners decline to make any snitable reduction in rents, Ali necessaries of life are quoted at tbe same fignres as before tbe “hard times" and tbe resnlt is tbat manv a wage-earner finds it bard to make botb ends meet. One of tbe best posted financiers iu Honolnln claims that investors in leal estate mnst be pleased by a retnrn of six percent on tbeir investiDents, and for that reason tbe rents mnst natorally be kept at tbeir present bigh rate. Webelieve tbat if Hawaii ever is to become trnly prosperoas it will be necessary to abaudon tbe idea tbat a cafe invesment sball pay five or six percents dividends. In F.urope aud Ameiiea, people now a days are well pleased to get tbree percent ou real estates investment aud the cbeaper moncy becomes tbo more benefit does tbe people derive. Some of our patriots (!), who now bave posscssion of the goverument sbou!d set nu eiample and for onee rememb'er tbe needs of the 'workingman in their calculations and speculations.