The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-01
HAWAII At
WASHINGTON
Nothing Sure About
a Commission
Yet.
Especial to The Advertiser.)

Especial to The Advertiser.)
WASHINGTON. d. c., June 1.-THE |
Committee on Pacific Islands and Por- |
to Rico convened this morning. but
most of the session was devoted to dis
cussion of Porto Rican matters and
only a few minutes were occupied with |
the Hawaiian ditch bill. No progress
was made. II seems impossible, TO give
any intelligent forecast as to whether
anything win be done by the commit
tee at this session. The whole matter
may go over till next December. 1t
'. ould not be surprising, however. If at
the last moment, just as the session
is closing. something should be done.
have intimated that in previous let
ters.
The opinion seems to prevail in the
committee that Senator Mttchell's reso-
Islands would be authorized, although
nothing was done about 1t at the com
mittee meeting this morning. Senator
Foraker, the chairman, is said to be
too busy to take the time this summer
for a trip to Porto Rico, but 1t is said
that Senator Burton Of Kansas would
ike to go out TO the Islands at Gov
ernrnent expense. 1t is regarded as
quite certain that the committee VIII
authorize a commission to inquire into
the validity of the ex-Queen's title or
claims. provided sufficient Senators of
the Committee On Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico can be induced 10 make the
trip.
Delegate Wilcox has not yet procured
the petition of Honolulu people for the
Installation OF electric power on the
Tramways line. I1e has been urged to
present il by the committee but for
come strange reason ii has not yet ap-
peared. The report of the subcommit-
tee that considered the Tramways bill
Cor the House Committee on Terrific
ries is as follows:
REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
RE HOUSE BILL 1900.
This bill proposes granting to the Ha-
waiian Tramways Company, Limited. the
right to convert its existing street railway
(now operated by horsepower into an
electric traction; TO erect poles, place
wires, and do such other things as are
necessarily and properly incident thereto
After careful hearing. at which the
matter was fully and fairly presented to
4
and Mr. Edgar Caypless, both of whom
are well and favorably known to your
committee, we are of opinion that the
rights and privileges sought by this bill
seem to be equitable and just: We be-
|lieve, however. that they should be grant
ed by the legislature of the Territory of
Hawaii, at least that Congress s5oc'd
not. in the absence Of grave necessity for
its interpostion. attempt local legiSla-
ton In the Territories.
while entertaining the views above ex-
pressed. regarding any action by Con-
gress at this time. your committee recog-
nizes the possibility that such contingency
may arise as win render it's interposition
necessary, after the subject-matter of this
bill shall have received or at least invit-
ed the attention of the Legislature, and
the Governor of Hawaii and we therefore
recommend that action thereupon, by
Congress. be deferred until the next seS-
sion, when further consideration may, or
may not. be found necessary.
Respectfully submitted.
"(Sig'd) JAMES 7. LLOYD,
ABRAHAM l.. BRICK.
Committee"
Mr.. Brown of the firm of Brittop,
Gray & Brown was at the Capitol this
morning, looking into the question of
the Tramways bill. He claims that it
seeks to grant privileges which are in
| controversy with a suit he has now be-
| fore the Supreme Court of the United
Estates and which has not yet been
decided. 1t is case that was brought
on appeal from Hawaii TO the court
here. ERNEST G. WALKER.