The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-09
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY BILL.

fore the Legislature by the Presi-
dent is the act to incorporate the
electric railway, introduced by
Representative Robertson. This
act was brought before the Adj
Yisory Council during its fret ses-
sions, and very properly laid over
until the converting IF the extra
session Of the Legislature. 1t now
comes forward revised and i'm
proved in many instances also &C
companied with the advantages of
investigation into the financial
strength of the promoters and the
demonstration of their good will,
which the delay of few months
has allowed.
The House, in the consideration
of the bill, has proceeded
carefully, guarding the interests of
the people, and at the same time,
with thorough appreciation of the
fact that if foreign capital is de.
sired in Hawaii fair inducements
must be allowed from a business
point of view. While the country
has many advantages which at
tract foreigners, it still remains true
that money will not be forcsd upon
the country against barriers which
it is possible for legislative solons
to construct.
The investors In this case ask
nothing unreasonable nor does the
freedom granted by the proposed
charter leave loopholes of which
sharp fnanciers may take advan-
tage and abuse the rights given by
the Government. Without going
into detail, this corporation re-
quests the opportunity to invest its
capital and enter into fair compe-
ton for the passenger traffic of the
city of Honolulu. No infringe
ment is made on the rights of cor
porations already existing and
there is remarkable freedom from
the claims which are often regarded
as among the perquisites due the
floating of a new enterprise. AL
though exemption from taxation
has been asked, the failure of the
lower house to grant it has not
formed a serious barrier in the
minds of the capitalists back of
the proposed road. Furthermore,
by tie provisions of the Act, the
corporation in the construction and
maintenance of the road is practi-
cally placed under the thumb of
the Minister Of the Interior
Aside from the worth of the new
enterprise to the city from the en-
HANGED value of property and SUI
perior accommodations for passen-
ger traffic, some idea of the immedi-
ate returns to be reaped by the
working classes is given in the
estimates of the cost of ope-
ration. The preliminary esti-
mates provide for sixteen motor
cars and six trailers to be run
eighteen hours per day. For this
is required one hundred and six
teen employees for which the !
monthly pay roll is placed at |
$11,126 q month or $133,512 for |
the year. OF these one hundred |!
and sixteen men, the superintend- /
emit, mechanical and electrical en-
gineer, inspector, chief line man
and chief track man-five persons
in all-will be imported and the |
remaining one hundred and eleven |
engaged in Honolulu.
It is an old adage that money /
makes money and from the above |
showing it will be noted that the /
working classes have an interest |
that is not TO be overlooked. The /
bill will come up for its third read
ing in the House Thursday and .
there is no good reason to prevent
the work of the Senate being car
ried on quite as promptly and
business-like, that there may be no
delay in pressing the work which
the corporation is to carry out, to
rapid completion. :