The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-09-18
THE LEGISLATURE.
104TH DAY. CONTINUED
AFTERNOON SESSION.

Dlll.
Section |. The right is hereby
granted for the term of ten years to
G. O. Berger, his associates and as
signs, to maintain electric works and
to light the City of Honolulu with
electric lights.
Rep. Diclley moved to amend by
inserting the words "The Minister
of Interior is hereby authorized to
grant unto any person, associations
of persons, or corporation the right
before the words Ito maintain"
etc. He approved of the lighting
of the principal cities by electric
lights. but did not like the idea of
spending So 900 year in Honolulu
at the expense of all the tax payers
of the Kingdom. Public money
ought to be spent for the benefit of
the whole people. 1t would be well
to try the lights first in Honolulu,
but nc did not wish to see it, at the
cost proposed in this bill. He had
been informed by Mr.. Smith. the
gentleman named in the other bill
on the table, that the patent for
which he was agent, the Thompson
and I1enston patent. can be placed
at 50 800. He had also been in
formed on good authority that the
Thompson and HenstOn patent had
driven out this patent in the princi-
pal cities of the United States. He
objected to binding the Minister of
Interior to give this franchise to any
particular agent. 1t looks as If this
bill was being pushed through in a
manner giving it the appearance of
job.
Noble Bishop said it was not many
years since electricity was first used
for the lighting of streets and
houses. 1t was believed that it
would take the place of gas. In
stead of gas being discarded, it had
come into more general use. Light
ing by electricity was still an ex-
pertinent. New machines and new
discoveries were constantly being
made. There was not at the present
time single city of any size lighted
entirely by electricity. 1t was true
it was being used more or less with
gas. but in large cities gas was still
used. There could be found here
and there some street, large building
or square lighted by electricity. His
feelings were that they had better
leave this matter to the richer cities.
When the best method was found
out. then would be time enough.
To show they were not behind the
times, gentleman from Boston in
formed him the other day that the
streets in the suburbs of that city
were lighted just the same rs in
Honolulu. They know what the
lighting of Honolulu costs and there
should be more lights. If they
adopt electricity they could not say
what the expense would be. Which
was the better system he did no
know With electricity it would
give a more beautiful light than the,
had now. 1T was not so much thu
brilliant light in one place and dark
ness in another they wanted as
light spread over the city. Tn
wisest thing to do would be to wal
and increse the present number O
lights. The Government owned tn
present lights. There was con
tract, but whether it was binding o
not he did not know. He moye'
the section and bill be laid upon til
table.
Rep. Kalua said this act woul'
not prevent another company fron
coming here, any time, with anothe
and better system.
Rep. Brown said he hoped TIN
bill would not pass. This franchis
might become n vested right.
the bill must pass, the amendmel
of the hon. member for Makaw;
ought to be adopted. He move
the words land to light the city
Honolulu with electric lights
struck out.
Rep. Kaunamano said it was Il
nature of man to be striving aft
something new and he approved
that spirit.
Rep. Richardson said he won
like to have the views of the Go
eminent on this question. !
wished to have information from
Minister of Interior respecting t
present contract for lighting t
streets, especially as to whether t
passage of this bill would interfe
with that contract.
Minister Gibson said he was /
prepared at that moment to ansN
the honorable member. A contr,
had been entered into by his pre-,
cessor, Mr.. Gulick, and he und
stood there were certain conditiC
that had not been complied wi
1t would be better for the matter
be submitted to the Attorney-G,
eral. This contract had been
: tered into with the Government, a
WAS bona iide one. Those W,
his views at present. There mi.
something arise that would invalid
this contract.
Rep. Richardson said his reas
for asking the Minister the quest
- was, that during the recent exhi
lion of the electric light at Pal;
Il L