The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-26
10 RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX
voLumINoUs REPORT RELATING
TO EXTENSION OF THE
FIRE LIMITS.
Street Railway Franchise Bill For
Hilo Pssses-8in For Manufacture
and Sale Of Liquor Passes Second
Reading.

Emmeluth offered as a stimulant for
the morning session a report from the
judiciary COMMITTEE on House Peti-
ton No. IU9, relative TO the Rapid
Transit Company. The committee
tells OF the Road Departments follow
ing the track-laying Of the Rapid
transit Co. with street construction
operations. Il condemns the practice
OF allowing streets anu sidewalks TO
be occupied by constructors of build
ings, saying. "the practice elsewhere
Is 70 erect a substantial structure over
the sidewalk, open on the street side
and covered with sufficient strong tim
bers 20 prevent debris from above drop
ping to the sidewalks, and thus safe
guarding the lives OF foot passengers
without unnecessary obstruction OF
either sidewalk or street"
The report deals strongly with the
scandalous manipulation of street
grades which has obtained from time
immemorial in Honolulu, thus:
During the discussion in the House
prior TO referring this resolution 10
your Committee on Judiciary, the argu-
ment was along lines indicating neg
lect on the part OF someone to estao-
lish road grades OF street grades so
as 10 make the erection of new build
ings and OF any permanent improve
ments along the lines of streets 10
conform with new street grades. Your
committee notes that the law estaD-
nsning grades Through a oSrannissinn-
was enacted In 1886. The entire grad
ing was to be done between the Sur
vey Department and the Superinten-
dent OF Public Works Taking Liliha
street as an example. witnIn the past
ten months. and long after the rights
OF the Rapid Transit Company to Goa
struct a railway line on Liliha street
had been established. building permits
we're granted along that street, and
construction permitted, where the fiool
levels today are more than two fec
below the grade line established fol
the Rapid Transit Company's tracks
The question arises who is to blame
II is another way OF endeavoring to IL
responsibility under the present cen
trahzed system OF government. You
committee feels impelled to call atten
tion TO this state OF affairs in the in
terest OF the poor unfortunates wh'
in a few short months will be com
PEELED 20 raise the buildings TO nev
street grades AZ enormous expense
Another feature OF this lack of sys
TEN in establishing the grades O
streets in time is that wherever suei
houses are raised 70 grade line larg,
areas are left without proper drainage
forming pools for the propagation o
disease-breeding germs.
In accordance with it's findings tn,
majority OF the committee recon
men6s:
"First-That the Rapid Transit Com
pany be made to conform strictly wit
the terms of its franchise in the con
struction OF its read bed.
"Second-That the Rapid Transi
Company be compelled to pay its pre-
portionate share for street improve
mentsras contemplated by the frar
ohise TO be performed by them, an
which may be performed by the CO.
ernment
''Thirj-That in harmony with thi
portion Of our report relating to n
use Of streets for hailding purpose
we recommend the repeal OF sectio
s42 OF the Penal Code and that Il
Superintendent OF Public Works issC
permits on the lines Of this report
Mr. Robertson presents this mino
ity report:
Il sgree with the recommendation
with which the report Of the commi
tee concludes. But | do not find thi
in laying its tracks on Hotel sire
the RRpid Transit Company has viola
ed the provision against oestructir
more than one block al q time. IT
fact that the surface OF the street
below the level OF the tracks whi'
are laid to the oficial grade is not q
fault Of the company. In regard
the compaRy's paying the governme
for matchmaking the strip on ea'
side Of the tracks required by law
be done By the company. il appea
that arrangements are now bel
made between the road bureau a
the company which win effect the ]
suit desired BY the committee
Makainai introduced the followf
report relative 20 the extension Of
FIRE limits:
Your Committee on Public Lan
and Internal Improvements rep'
on House Petition No. Ss. set
resolutions passed bv the Chamber
Commerce. petitioning the Legislatl
to favor any hiIl that may be int
duced before II. for the extension