The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-03-13
Electric Lights-A Representative
Wants to Raise Officers salary.
Senator HoIstein of Hawaii Seated.
Sixteenth Day.
THURSDAY, March L,

The only absentees when the roll was
called.
Senator Lyman presented the ere
dentials OF Senator-elect Holstein,
which, on motion of Senator Brown,
were referred 10 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
ming expenses of the Government
electric lights in the Appropriation
Bill have not had time, and lave not
thought it best to take time, to search
thoroughly aud systematically into
the matter as they would wish to do
in view OF its importance, on account
of tue delay it would cau-e to the pas
sage of the Appropriation Bill. Any
change in the present system would
be q 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
sideratiou, and the following fscts are
taken from documents furnished by
the Minister of the Interior. Without
burdening the memb ers of the Senate
with all of the details which have
come to our attention, the results OF
the investigation are presented.
sThe 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
ept system, and would take the water
power in Nuuapu 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
CODY of the communication just 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
10y prohibited from alternating ID any
manner the ownership and control OF
the Government over the Govern
ment water supply or power produced
tberefrom, or the Government cleo
trio light plant
sIn 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 recOmmen that |
the item pass at the original amount
of $l3, 1900"
Superintendent Rowelps letter reads |
as follows: "In order to make clear |
one point which was not sufficiently |
brought out in my report on the Elec- |
trio Light system, l will say:
s1f the Government should abandon
the incandescent light system and ap.
ply the whole water power available
to lighting the streets, it will be prac-
ticable to run 200 arc lights, or about
double the present number.
Even in case of q dry season, the |
water which 1t is possible to store dur
Ing the moonlight nights would prob
ably enable Us TO keep up the full
number of lights during dark nights. |
seTo make this change it would be
necessary to provide each department
with means to pay for its own lights,
and also TO provide the cost OF lamps,
wires and poles for as many additional
lights as Should be decided on at the
rate of Sl25 per light. Seventy five
additional lights would require al APP
preparation of $500. The running ex-
penses would be covered by the pres
ent appropriation"
Senator HOlstein Seated.
At this point the Judiciary Com
mittee reported favorably on Mr..
Holstein's credentials. The report
was accepted and recess taken while
the com nittee waited upon the Chief
Justice who arrived shortly and ad-
minisler.d the oath of office This
ceremony being completed the bust
ness of the day proceeded in the
regular routine.
The committee on Passed bills re-
ported that House bill No. 3, relating
10 laundries and wash houses nsd
nassed both houses and been sent to {
me President. Minister King report
I'd that it had been signed,