The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-09-23
COME FROM COVER.

The more the proposed license of Ha-
makua water rights is considered, the
deeper Is the impression that the repre-
sentatives of the people cannot be too
careful, nor make haste too slowly. No
contract should be made which will tie
up such extensive rights and oppor-
tunities affecting so radically such
large portion of the available agricul-
tural area of the territory, and affect
ing so vitality such large interests, even
for the short term of two or five years,
TO say nothing of ninety-nine years,
without the most thorough knowledge
of its possible and probable effects.
Water is the life of the land, from an
industrial standpoint, as righteousness
is from an ethical one. The water
which makes our soil fertile is the gift
of God to the whole people. To con-
serve it, store IL, and lead it to where
it can be most useful is the work of
man, and he who does this is worthy
the fruits of his labor, his foresight
and his enterprise. But from these
two considerations it arises that there
are two elements in the proposed con-
tract which if the contract is to be a
wise one must be equitably adjusted
requiring not only honesty of purpose,
but carefully study.
In the contract under consideration, it
is proposed that the licensee and those
he shall associate with him, shall take
the rain, the gift of GOD to the whole
people, which shall fall on government
land, which belongs to the whole peo-
pie, and adding to it the fruit of their
capital and effort" their foresight and
ability, make of this rain and the use
of this land, a commodity. to sell for
their own direct beneht, and undoubt-
eddy to the great Benefit of the terri
tory. But since ,the,people put into this
Joint enterprise that which is Of prime
necessity, they must look to their rep
resentatives to see that in the final re-
suits they get, their share of the bene-
fits.
Among other things it would seem
that if the people of the territory are
thus going into partnership, they
ought to know who their partners are
to be, Have those who seek this Ii
cense the means in sight now to carry
out their contract? Or are they merely
seeking license of great value which
they can hawk around until they find
the men with the necessary money to
carry it out, ready to buy it? In other
words is the government now negotia-
ting for a partnership, or is it merely
giving an option to scalpers to make
what they can, out Of it? Who are be-
hind the nominal licensee?
Will it be that the parties now in in
terest will have to spend the two years
given them to begin work, in finding
some one able to begin the work to
take the license off their hands? And |
the government at the end of the two |
years be asked to extend the time for
beginning operations, and at the end |
of five years, be asked to extend the |
time for completing them?
Who are the men who talk of putting
up $2,5OO,OOO in this enterprise? Have
they the present means for carrying
out the contract they propose? or
have they still to find it? May we in
deed expect five years to see this work
completed. or are these public utilities
to be tied UP as opportunities for an
indefinite and much longer period and
taken from all practical control of the
people for the long period of ninety
nine years after thatP .>'
The tendency of the times is for gov
control of public utilities.
Though this territory may not be ready
within five years (yet who can say that
It may not be3, to undertake this
Haterright scheme, as a public work, it
ought not through any mistake now to
,oTestall itself inthis matter. fora long
er period. ''..iH' ass so So"
Who are the men who viii put up the
money to carry out the terms of this
license? Let them come from cover