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

! his company in accordance with the
alleged agreement of two years ago.
W. o. Smith it was who broke into
| the speech, saying he had not time to
remain if they were going over all the
| ground disputed the ouner day. He
| had been notified to come there to con-
slider the terms of the license.
| The Governor agreed with the OBJ
jector, but allowed Mr.. Gehr a request
| ed minute to conclude.
| SHORT TERM ADVOCATED.
Mr. Smith then made an argument
against the proposition of making the
| term 80 years. The B. P. Bishop Es-
| tate and the C. r. Bishop Trust, for
which he appeared, had made their
| terms with the Hawaii Ditch Co. 20
and 80 years. The Bishop grant to
Sam Parker was for so years, with a
| certain rental for 20 years, then a re-
adjustment for Is years, with another
| for the remaining Is years. He men
] toned several large water licenses for
comparatively short terms, such as that
of Keanae, Maui, to II. P. Baldwin for
q years and the Wahiawa lease on this
island for 40 years. 1t would be i'm
possible to tell what the future of the
sugar industry might be, or that of
coffee or tobacco, in this country. No
body could tell what the conditions
would be, even 40 years hence. The
late Jonathan Austin, as administrator
of the Lunalilo estate, gave a 40-year
lease of land but before the term was
expired the taxes came to more than
the rent Fifty years would be long
| enoug-. and there should be a read
justment much earlier. 1t was for
right Of way over government lands
and they could not say how much
those lands might be worth before the
end OF the term. There should be at
least one rest. if possible two rests.
Mr.. Gehr said the license approved
formerly provided that at the end of
so years there should be a renewal for
IS or 40 years he thought.
The Governor said it was for IS
years.
Mr.. Gehr said that room was crowded
with parties in interest two years ago
and there was no objection to the term
proposed.
TO ATTRACT CAPITAL.
Mr.. McCrosson believed the term
should be SO years to attract capital,
but with periods of readjustment. 1t
might be so years and then readjust-
ment OF the privilege. Answering Mr..
Cooper he said he meant by privilege
that the company should have the first
call for renew-l. 1t might look alb
surd to talk about 80 years, but it
was necessary with reference to capital.
Mr.. Gehr interpolated that he wished
to be understood that he joined in the
discussion without waving any rights
he claimed.
Mr.. McCrossen stated that the United
States gave rights of way without
terms.
Governor Dole mentioned that Mr..
Baldwin paid $1,000 for the Keanae Ii
cense but found it necessary to expend
$3.50. geo for developing the water. An
swering Mr.. Gehr, he said he thought
Mr.. Baldwin was required ito furnish
water to others.
QUESTIONS ASKED.
Mr.. Gehr then said the lands Bald
win went over were only 1000 acres,
while the heensee in this case must
give all the water to others. After
further renarl by Mr.. Smith, bringing
in 21-year leases to four plantations
on Oahu and the 40-year one of Ma
kaweh and showing how capital came
readily for bonds in those cases, Mr..
Gehr asked if the two Bishop concerns
had made the contracts, express or i'm
piled, with the Hawaii Ditch Co.
Mr.. Smith replied that they had en-
tered into an agreement with that COM
pany for the surplus waters Of Waipio
and Honokane. The reason was the
agreement with Sam Parker that he
would have the first call on those sur
plus waters.
Mr. Gehr then asked a similar ques-
ton regarding a contract by a corpora
ton of which John Hind is president
with the Hawaii Ditch Co. Mr. Lewis
said there was none since he had to do
with Mr.. Kinds company
CURT REJOINDER.
Mr.. McCrosson-"My answer is that
it is our business
Mr.. Gehr-"That is sufficient an
swer."
Mr.. Cooper objected to discussion of
anything but the conditions of license.
Mr.. Gehr referred to a published
statement in justification of general
discussion. Governor Dole said that
W, a mistake, as the only business of
the hearing was that of form of
license to be sold at auction. Mr..
Gehr said the auction would be a
farce. because there were only four
parties who would bid, viz: The Ha-
wall Ditch Co., the Bishop Estate, the
Kohala Plantation, and himself and
his associates. The Hawaii Ditch Co.
having entered into undertakings with
the Bishop Estate and Kinds planta-
ton company. it was narrowed down
to himself and associates and Nc
CroSSon and associates.
NOT A FARCE.
Mr.. Smith said there was no emf
nent domain over private lands in ques-
ton and no private parties would be
deprived of water. It could not be
said there was no competition only
when but one party was present With
four parties there was clear COMPETE
ton.
TO THE POINT.
Governor Dole corrected the dis
putants by saying the question that
day was not as to whether the water
was TO be put up at public auction,
but in case it was put up what were
the terms to be.
Mr.. Single stated that he was there
to represent DR.. James Wight of Ko-
hala who had Joined in a natitioD with