The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-03-14
IHE ELEcTRIcAL INSPECTOR.


The fact that a motion passed the
Senate to strike out the item for the
nav of the electrical Inspector is a mat
ter OF regret TO all who realize the
need and value OF public oversight OF
electric wiring.
When wires for the carriage OF high
power electrical current are put into
ones home or Office building or store,
II is prudent. before the current IS
turned on, to make sure that the wiring
is properly done; that no crossing of
wires or defective insulation exists.
which would cause a fire. The average
householder does not know about such
things and must employ an expert TO
tell him. Where can he get one? II
ne goes to the company which put in
the wires he viii simply be asking a
dealer to pass upon his own work and
can be pretty sure that the dealer will
not put himself TO extra expense FOR
changes II ne can avoid 1t. On the
other hand IL he goes to a rival concern
ne cannot be sure that It VIII not pre-
tend to find everything wrong SO as to
give the other house a bad name and
get work for itself which viii cost him
a heavy bin of expense. Either horn
OF the dilemma is Objectionable and the
only way to avoid both is to have the
Government provide disinterested in
spector who will see that the house
holder gets what he has paid for and
that neither himself nor the community
is endangered by an avoidable fire in
his house.
Fer example. A member of the Ad-
xertiser stan had. occasion. some time
ago. to install electric wires. The work
was done by a reputable firm but In
spector Hasson, in looking over the
plant, found place in the attic where
ordinary precautions had been neglect
ed. Had the current been turned on.
the house might have burned. As it
was the inspector compelled the COM
pany to put matters right beforehand
We submit that every property owner
or lessee should have such official SER
vice at his disposal whenever it is
needed. without it he cannot feel safe;
nor can the company that insures him.
Consider also the interests OF the pub
lie that use the streets. Honolulu is
getting a network of wires. There are
seven systems acknowledgements
arc and incandescent; Hawaiian Elec-
trio ditto; telephone. Rapid Transit,
GanleweI, and some unauthorized
wires for a messenger service. 1t is
necessary to make sure that these wires
do not cross, else death may descend
upon the man passing in the street.
One could say that such matters might
be properly left to the owners, who
do not want their service interrupted
or their credit subjected to damage
suits; but it is desirable to avoid dis
putes as to responsibility among own
ers and t. e ford the public all the safe
guards win regular official inspection
can give.
That the corporations object to the
interference" of a Government inspec-
tor is natural. but that is no argument
for the public which gains in security
In the ratio with which the inspector
does his duty. 1t might be added that
the constant efforts OF Mr.. Hasson to
compel the Telephone company to in
staI wires and poles properly and to
regulate the wiring OF houses by the
Hawaiian Electric Company. has more
to do in the Senate with the attack on
his position than any consideration of