The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-09-08
KOHALA WATER
CONTROVERSY IS
AT HOME AGAIN
Gehrs Claim the Right to the
Franchise Without Public
Competition.

Considerable heat was developed between the conesng parties
at the hearing Koaa question held by Governor Dole
yesterday Probably only the m6derang tact OF the Governor
prevented the occurrence of highly scenic episodes
There three parties strongly represented VIZ the hoaa
Co., Gehr the Hawaii Ditch Co.. or the Parker
and the B. p Bishop Estate The personnel consisted OF A.
c. Ceh H. Cel Walter Jones' S Low, Samuel Parker Fred
Wunenberg T. McCrosson Captain John Ross F. B. McClananan
S Balou W. O. Smith Henry Holmes A. W. Garter and f. D.
Dodge.
The matter in general might being resumption OF
M con for rr;on nrivaes Ko1aa and Hamakua two years
ago which when instructions from Washington
that the privileges sought not within the power OF
the Territorial Government to grant Some little time before such term
nation knowledge that the Gr and Parker interests
had together apparently ending the competitive
and leaving nothing ne done but the settlement OF details
combined Misunderstanding applicants and the government
of the Territory Near to this stage OF the proceedings some e'n
complications developed The Bishop Estate began investigating its
irrigation Articles appearing
the papers raising questions OF the public interest in the whole matter
Then Either about that time A. c. Clr and
Samuel Parker left for Washington or soon alter ther ay %
intelligence that the agreement between their two
had fallen pieces Next there in Washington over
the great Hawaiian irrigation scheme schemes
giving the coveted franchise the Hawaii Ditch Co.. being
corporate gs introduced Congress- but
opposition conducted by A. c. Ger and aided by W. o.
Smith Bishop defeated The bill introduced
i'll the House A. in the Senate March and
the Senate Committee Paclhc
Islands and Porto Rico Senator's Mitchell of that
visited this Territory where they known the Senator
a Commission and Of duty under the reference mentioned
reported back the Senate by Mr. Burton with amend
January OF this The amendment provided for COM
pensaon Territory periods not less than $4,000
the bill Attorney General
rendered for the Secretary of the Interior which held that the matter was
within jurisdiction OF Territorial Government adjust and
brought conflict back Honolulu and the occasion
of the Governas call OF a hearing
Governor Dole correspondence himself and Secre
Hitchcock whom he had copy the renewed application
Co., for franchise In of his comments
recollection that before
Washington he understood the original contestng parties
had arrived a a agreement
Mr. Wndenberg attorney fact for Mr. Parker when the
latter departed for Washington denied that there was agreement
Mr. he said before the
for the purposes license
Government land the parties might be regarded combination
stating there until then combination
A. c. Ghr contention this hearing that the question
stood upon footing did before proceedings here
stopped by instructions from Washington Providing that
cepd by the Governor the situation then the Parker interest became
bound by the alleged agreement combine
In the presenting his Mr. Gefr read
amount correspondence which spicy personalities
Mr. McCanahan cpistoarv pellets of
equally entertaining character,