The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-09-15


trict requesting that conditions be plac-
ed in the license compelling it's hold
ers to furnish water to all those requir-
( ing it. Manager j. S. Kay, one of the
/ petitioners had expressed the hope
/ that the Government would make the
franchise as liberal as possible to at
| tract capital
| PLEA FOR LIBERALITY.
| Mr.. Wundenberg urged the desirable
ity of bringing the matter to a head,
SO that the water would be available
| for developing new lands Arguing
| the benefits to the government from
| increasing taxable values, he hoped the
| franchise would be made as liberal as
| possible.
| Mr.. Lewis spoke of the general desire
| of the people of the island of Hawaii
to have the water and contended that
| the fairest thing for all parties was to
| put the franchise up at auction.
GOVERNMENT UNBOUND.
Governor Dole here made it plain
| that the government was considering
| the matter on the ground that it was
not bound by the agreement of three
years ago. He knew that Mr. Gehr
dissented from this. Then he pro-
posed the amendment to restrict the IL
censee to the surface waters. answer
| ing Mr.. Gehr's question as to tunnels
| to connect gulches with the remark,
Tunnels are allowed for carrying wa
ter but not for finding water"
Mr.. McCrosson thought it reason
able provision, but he did not deem
| it necessary, as the company would be
| interested in preserving it's water.
DEAD LINE PROPOSED.
The Governor then proposed the 1900
| foot elevation line. This brought the
conference clustering over the maps on
the table.
Mr.. McCrosson, in the course of the
discussion, suggested a division of the
water resources, to which Mr.. Gehr re-
piled he wanted all of the water and
| would wait ten years for what was
beyond reach now under contracts.
CUT DOWN TIME.
Governor Dole PROF osed to cut down
the time limits from two years to be-
gin work and five years to deliver wa
ter to one year and four years re-
spectively.
This proposal brought strong objec-
lions from Mr.. Gehr and warm de-
bate.
Mr.. McCrosson said his side knew
what water tl-ey had.
Mr. Gehr tainted Mr.. Smith with the
reminder that two years ago, when
there was but one party, there was no
talk about cutting down the time.
AT WRONG END.
Mr.. Parker said Mr. Gehr was all
right, only he began at the wrong end.
He started at New York and We start
ed here Mr. Parker said. 1--WE have
capital enough to go on
Mr.. Gehr asked him if he did not go
5000 miles for capital and Mr.. Parker
retorted that he went to Washington
with his own money.
Governor Dole explained 1t did not
mean the delivery of all the water, yet
bona fide delivery nevertheless.
Mr.. McCrosson was willing to make
it three years.
GENTLE HINT.
Mr.. Gehr would agree to have it cut
down to three years if the clause We're
eliminated exclusive of time lost in
litigation
The Governor hardly knew what Mr..
Gehr meant.
Mr.. McCrosson said Mr. Gehr wanted
to tie UP the enterprise.
Mr. Gehr said it was perfectly under
stood here and in Washington that he
would protect his rights to the last
minute.
Mr. McCrosson knew that, also knew
that Mr. Gehr would get all his rights
in the courts.
Mr.. Wundenberg would leave every
thing to the Government.
Governor Dole said he felt very much
inclined to limit the license to lands
actually under Government control.
Such were the green lands and the yell
low lands of Waipio and Honokane.
Mr.. Gehr said that was all right-!t
was question of law.
TROUBLE NOT WANTED.
The Governor said if Mr.. Gehr got
the franchise then, there would be liti-
CATION right away and the Government
did not want litigation.
Mr.. Gehr quoted Mr.. McCrosson as
saying before the Senate committee
that the franchise would be useless be-
low a certain line.
PRICE SMALL NATTER.
SbS~N-@N~
the question of the price the Govern
ment should put on the franchise. He
urged with many examples of irriga-
ton schemes that the rental would only
be small part of the benefit to the
Government.
Governor Dole conceded Mr. Smith
was right in part but seemed to con-
slider it necessary to fix an upset price
in the form of a percentage of gross
receipts.
Mr. McCrosson held that the COM
mon practice in large cities was to
charge percentage on net receipts.
Mr. Gehr took him up on this, saying
a Chicago traction company was IN the
hands of a receiver on account of the
charge of a percentage on gross re-
ceipts.
MINIMUM EXPENDITURE.
Another question was the amount OF
money the company should spend with
in a specified time.
Mr.. McCrosson would agree to 100000
in four years.