The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-03-13
Appropriation Bill Finally Passes
the Senate.
OBJECT TO IMPORTING APPRAISER
Report of Committee on Government
Electric Lights-A Representative
Wants to Raise Officers salary.
Senator Holstein of Hawaii Seated.
Sixteenth Day.
THURSDAY, March II.

The principal points or interest In
the two hours session of the Senate
included the reception of Mr.. Hol-
stein of Hawaii into the fold and a
lively tiff over the appropriation bill
for pay rolls and salaries.f
Senators Schmidt and Wilcox were
the only absentees when the roll was
called.
Senator Ly man presented the Gre
dentials of Senator-elect HoIstein,
which, on motion of Senator Brown,
were referred 20 the Judiciary Com
mittee. This committee Immediately
retired for consultation.
Minister Damon reported that DR..
Rodgers was not drawing salaries
from two positions during the time for
which he requests back pay as Secre-
tary of the Labor Commission.
Electric Light station.
Senator Horner presented the fol-
lowing report on the appropriation
for maintaining the electric light
station:
"Your Miscellaneous Committee, to
which was referred the item of run
electric lights in the Appropriation
Bill, have not had tine, and have not
| thought it best to take time, to search
| thoroughly and systematically into
the matter as they would wish to do
| in view of it's Importance, on account
of the delay it would cause to the pas
sage of the Appropriation Bill. Any
change in the present system would
be very important matter, and would
take a considerable amount of time in
committee for gaining ali information
desired and for discussion. The item
in question being the only item in the
Appropriation Bill under discussion,
your committee has thought best
not to make any considerable delay.
"Tne matter has had earnest con-
sideration, and the following facts are
taken from documents furnished by
the Minister of the Interior. Without
burdening the members of the Senate
with all of the details which have
come to our attention, the results of
the investigation are presented.
''The proposed system of lighting
the streets and the Government de-
partments in the various parts OF the
city by the Hawaiian Electric Com
pany would cost considerably over
5000 per month more than the pres
ent system, and would take the water
power in Nuuanu valley from the
control of the Government. Your
committee feels that whatever may
be the advantages claimed for the
proposed system, the Government is
not in a condition at present to in
crease the appropriation.
"There is appended to this report
oOnu Of tha Communication inst re-
ceived from the Superintendent of
Public Works, which states that should
| the Government in the future wish
| to turn over to the Hawaiian Electric
Company the supply of power for the
incandescent lights now used, there
| is sufficient water power to furnish
much larger number of street lights,
which the Superintendent of Public
| Works thinks are much needed. The
cost of the street lights takes much
the larger part of the appropriation,
and at some additional expense this
plan might be adopted in the future
without giving up the control of the
present plant and water supply.
"SectiOn IA of the Session Laws of
| 1892 has the following paragraph:
The Minister of the Interior is here
by prohibited from alternating in any
manner the ownership and control of
! the Government over the Govern
ment water supply or power produced
! therefrom, or the Government cleo
trio light plant
"Tn view OF the necessity of amend
ing the laws, if any change be made,
your committee have felt that it
would not be wise to undertake any
thing of the kind at this session, and
therefore we would recommend that