The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-09-14
INFORMATION NOT OBTAINABLE
Delegates Opinion of
Legislators Duty.
Wants Electric Roads and Lights
and Extended Water Mains,
Not the Earth.

The Central Committee of the Amer
lean Union Party met last night for
the purpose of arranging the details of
the platform to be presented to the con-
yention next Thursday night, Any in
formation regarding this document
was not obtainable from the members
Of the committee direct, but it is un-
derstood that annexation forms the
central plank, with the income tax and
tariff reform measures as side issues.
From the arranging of the platform
the matter Of candidates naturally oc-
cupied the attention of the committee.
Nothing like slate was prepared, but
the gentlemen present discussed the
capabilities of the men most talked of
as candidates and decided which of
them it would be advisable to work
hardest for on the night of the conven-
ton.
1t is pretty well understood that at
least three residents of the Fourth
District, whose names will not go be-
fore the convention, will stand as in
dependent candidates, in order to draw
fire from the guns of some of the reg
ular nominees. The only eject this
rumor can have will be to cause the
delegates to use greater care in the Sc
lection Of candidates. As the number
OF persons registered and believed to
be opposed to the principles of the
party is small, there is no great dan
ger Of men, open in their opposition to
the Government, being elected.
While the members of the committee
were in session last night a delegate,
not a member of the committee. re-
marked: There were some of the Ho-
nolulu delegation in the Legislature
last session who could see nothing in
a measure not backed by the Govern
ment and they acted as though the
Cabinet Ministers thought for them. l
am in favor this time in nominating
only supporters of the Government,
but they should think, at least occa-
sionally, for themselves A member
who will vote for all Government meas
ures, whether they be good or bad,
is not fit to represent his district in
anything. l want to see men in there
who will work to have the railway sys-
TEN of the city changed into something
more modern than we now have and l
want men who will at least work for
better service in street lighting. l I'M
by some one to have the electric light
ing pass into the hands of private
parties. l am opposed to this, for l
believe the ownership of the lights, as
well as the water should be in the
hands of the Government. Honolulu
is too small place yet to control the
street railways, but it would be better
for the public if it had charge now. In
the last session the Hawaiian Tram
ways Company made a proposition to
change its system from mules to cleo
tricity, on condition that the franchise
would be extended a limited number
of years, and that the grade, when
once established. should remain, but
the committee returned the PROPOSE
ton with something like so provisos.
The manager would not consent to
these conditions, so here we are peg
ging away and the police with .un-
precendented activity are piling up
cruelty-to-animal cases in the Police
Court.
Il do not know what kind of plat
form the committee is fixing up, but 1
would like TO make every candidate
pledge himself TO vote for an electric
street railway franchise and an appro-
priation for putting new machinery
and engines in the Government Elec-
trio Light Works. During the last
three years a vast amount of building
has been done in the suburbs, and
more people are ready to build now,
but decline to do so on account of the
lack of facilities for reaching their
homes after they build. Even this an
noyance would be modified if the cleo
trio light system could be extended.
We want at least 200 more arc lights in
Honolulu and the outskirts, and by the
expenditure of few thousand dollars
they could be obtained. 1t would be
necessary to use fuel only when there
is a scarcity of water in the reservoirs,
out pe lut INTRODUCTION VI SOCoAh Sn-
gines we would be sure to have lights
all the time.
There is another matter of interest
to people who own lots in the suburbs
water. Superintendent Brown tells
me that he wants water pipe, in order
to extend the mains. l would favor an
appropriation for this. 1t would be
Government measure, of course, but l
would have Honolulu members push it
along. have no interest in outside
property, but l am not so selfish and
narrow that 1 cannot see the benefits
that would accrue to the Government
by such improvements. There would
be a heavy increase in the value of
taxable property and there would be
a good interest on the money expended