The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-12
THE TRAMWAYS.

The Hawaiian Tramways Company
has had the glove thrown down to it,
and there is nothing that the travelling
public can be more rejoiced over. The
rule of the tramways company has
been the worst of monopolies. 1t has
given us dirty cars uncivil servants,
underpaid help, irregular car accom-
mediation, and insults to American SOL
diers. 1t is almost impossible to make
people away from here understand how
bad the service is and how it is con-
Quoted in defiance of public opinion.
But it has a monopoly, and it wants
to continue that monopoly for a period
of fifty years, after it's present fran
chise runs out.
One would think that the experience
we have had with a franchise of this
sort ought to be a warning. 1t appar-
emily carries no warning to people
who do not understand what is meant
by the request of the tramways COM
pany. They desire a franchise for
steam, electricity, compressed air, or
any other motive power. This ANY
other motive power is rather dam
gerous proviso. If the company did
not care to use steam, electricity or
compressed air." it could carry out it's
contract by using spawned and totter-
ing mules, and raw backed horses. Is
this what is wanted during the next
fifty years.
The tram car company claims that
it is protected by the Home Rule party.
But is it possible that the Home Rule
party is willing or DESTROYS of saddling
upon Honolulu a franchise which is 60
ing to work to the distinct disadvan-
tage of the city for fifty years or more
to come. Who can tell what are going
to be the changes that will be wrought
in those ensuing fifty years. Is this
progressive city to be tied to the meth
DDS of 1901 when every city will be
using the almost certain discoveries of
1925.
Hawaiian gentlemen are readers, and
they know the wopders of science. 1t
must be incredible that men with such
views, would stop the advancement of
their country, would tie up the capital
of their country to Anticipated methods,
AiSISly " put lllOHGJ llllO we pOChGlo
of foNeign corporation, which spends
as little as it can in Hawaii, but pays
its dividends abroad. Which gives a
very meager portion of it's work to Ha-
waiians, and trusts it's higher posi-
lions to very different races. The Ha-
waiian Tramways Company gives an
apparent helping hand to the Hawaiian
on one side, and then slaps his face
Shar~ on the other.
But to return to the main argument
Can or cannot the Legislature grant
the charter to the Hawaiian Tramways
Company for a period of fifty years
One naturally turns to the Organic
Act. This act speaks one thinks ex-
plicitly. 1t says: 1.-The Legislature
shall not Grant to any corporation, as
sociation, or individual any special or
exclusive privilege, immunity or fran
chise, without the approval Of Con-
gress" If this section of the act is
sustained, goodbye to Manager Pains
schemes for a fifty years franchise.
Everyone who has the interest of the
place at heart, must realize that an
effort to saddle corporation upon a
city, whether it be full fledged or in
embyro, will in both cases be inimical
to the interests of the citizens if it
has not their best interests at heart.
To tie up the city for fifty years to
corporation which has been VIGOROUSLY
inefficient would be serious wrong in
fiicted upon the citizens of this city.
OF course the Legislature can propose
and do anything which it may desire
to do, but it seems impossible that a
Legislature at the crossing of the cross
roads, should take a course so dame
trically opposed to what are the real
interests of the people.