Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-02-25

ply for a hearing. or even may be called
upon to testify before the Grand Jury,
be given full opportunity so to do, so
that they may substantiate or throw out
such charges, and the Grand Jury may
be able to ferret out the facts anu
truth, that the guilty may be brought
to the Bar Of Justice
Upon my first term as a Grand Juror
It is the candid opinion Of the minor
ity, without prejudice. that sentiment
prevailed IN the councils of the Grand
Jury. Against poor natives, Porto Ric.
ans or Cinnamon indictments ara
found for petty crimes, but when pub
lie opinion calls for Investigation OF
public franchises, corporations. ths
Hackfeld wharf, Rapid Transit Co,
Chinese Fund that was deposited in the
Territorial Treasury from the First
National Bank. Government officials
as public servants, these things are
voted down and side-tracked for fear
OF being of very sensational char
ater. and the saints are brought down
to roost on perch of fame or dis
grace.
II is also the candid opinion OF the
minority that II is a difficult matter TO
call Grand Jury, II chosen from bust
ness men. to ferret out a wrong that Is
constantly INDUCED in by corpora
ton that is incorporated. say from one
to two or three millions. for the reason
that the business men OF their employ
ees are interviewer through business
transactions either direct or indirect.
And 1t is an easy matter for the public
to understand that the "cogs" of the
wheels of Justice" are "choked" and
cannot revolve. With such small
community as Honolulu It is a difficult
matter to butt up against such large
corporations, where millions are in
Nolved, and Territorial officials ap-
pointed to protect the interests of such
corporations and trusts.
Upon the above facts set forth the
conditions existing are of a very grave
nature; II reminds us of a paragraph
IN the Bible inspired over thousand
years ago, that reads as follows:
The rich richer and the poor poor,
err"
Rapid Transit G. Land Co.
| | desired the investigation of trans.
actions of this corporation in order to
determine TO what extent their recent
increase OF stock was justifiable; in
other words. how much of same was
Issued against money deposit and
now much OF II was velvet" | claim
the terms and conditions defined in
sections II and 81 of the charter of
this company do not warrant the issue
OF stock or bonds except on deposit of
their face value in money for the legal
uses of the corporation as there set
forth.
| ! desired also to obtain information
as to the amount of money subscribed
for campaign purposes by this com.
pany and disposition made of any
earnings to date; also how many quar-
terly statements have been rendered
the Government under terms OF sub.
section of section II of charter.
desired to inquire into the terms
and authorizations by which the Exec.
utive of the Territory saw at, In the
absence of Legislation in the matter. to
grant extensions to this company on
streets not contemplated by the terms
of the franchise.
desired, finally, to seek publicity
for the transactions by which the
Rapid Transit Company seeks to OBJ
tain control of the Tramways Com
pany, believing that under the charter
OF the former company the community,
through its representatives, is a part.
ner of the corporation under terms of
subsection of section II OF their char
ter, and that only through the DISPOSE.
ton OF. these several matters on an
| equitable and legal basis, together with
doing away with the pernicious free
pass system this corporation would
be acting within the terms of its char.
ter thus making II possible that sufR.
cient earnings may accrue to yield
some little consideration to the city for
the valuable concessions yielded this
corporation.
The streets upon which the cars OF
this company run today are practically
monopolized by them to the detriment
,of business houses abutting thereon as
well as the danger of collision and the
shape OF rails that prompts many dri.
vers of vehicles to avoid such streets.
l believe this corporation must be a
benefit to the community and that, II
properly conserved, the earnings may
Yield reyenue for tho nuhlio Traa aury.
but eternal vigilance is the price we
have to pay II we desire to see com.
munity rights maintained.
GEORGE MARKHAM.
-