The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-04-12
MEASURES OF
TERRITORY
SLOW
Hawaiians Take Up
Some important
Matters.
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)

WASHINGTON. d. c., March Is
Hawaians here are becoming impatient
over delays in the passage of territorial
bills The electric light and gas fran
chise bills are both now favorably re-
ported to the Senate and House. Every
thing is waiting for the action OF the
House. Efforts there to bring tip the
electric bill have been blocked by objec-
tions but these may be overcome at any
time. If the objections prevail for a
while. the opportunity will improve att
err the present week. when the House
will have practically completed its ap-
preparation bills for this session. With
the appropriation bills out OF the way,
there will be time to consider other
matters.
Possibly before this letter is half way
across the continent the franchise bills
will be disposed Of As soon as the
House acts there will probably be no
difficulty in getting the sanction OF the
Senate. Mr. Foraker has already given
notice over there OF his wish to bring
UP those bills, but appropriation bills,
too are occupying the most OF the time
of the Senate just at present. Friday
last Mr.. Robinson, OF Ind, brought up
the electric bill and asked unanimous
consent for its consideration but Mr..
Maddox, OF Georgia, objected because it
was so late in the day The following
day Mr.. Robinson brought the bill up
again but objection was made by MIR.
Underwood, of Alabama, and MIR. Payne,
of New York, the latter having been
one of those who made a bitter fight
against the bill when it was first pre-
sented in the House weeks ago. 1t
consideration by unanimous consent is
refused ii may be possible to find some
other way, perhaps by a special rule
or during some suspension day, which
occurs once month.
The prompt action of the Senate
Committee on Pacific Islands and Porto
Rico on the franchise bills was partcu-
larly gratifying to those who are here
pressing them. That committee met
last week, having Hon. w. o. Smith,
Mr.. William Haywood, Mr.. George B,
Mcclellan, Mr.. d. l.. Wilmington, and
others present. There was brief eX-
PLANTATION OF the bills, following which
they were ordered favorably reported
The Senators of the Committee prompt
ly comprehended the measures before
them. After some discussion ii was
agreed to adopt the two bills, substan-
TALLY as amended by the House Com
mittee on Territories, but the electric
bill was changed so as TO make the
maximum charge for service 20 cents,
instead of II cents, as fixed by the
House Committee. The price OF gas
was fixed at $3.50, instead of $2.25, as
fixed by the House Committee, A
change was also made in the provision,
allowing the courts to determine at any
time what is reasonable price for
either of those utilities so that the Ian
guage will be That power is hereby
conferred upon the courts of appro-
pirate general jurisdiction" the word
general having been inserted.
Senator Blackburn, of Kentucky, was
delegated to draw the report on the
electric bill and Senator Foraker drew
the report on the gas bill. Both these
reports are substantially an embodiment
of the House reports on the same bills.
Hon w. O. Smith, who has been here
now several weeks, is very anxious to
return to Honolulu, and had hoped to
leave Washington TODAY He has been
delayed by the failure of the House to
act upon the electric bill. He has
naturally become somewhat impatient
over the long delay, but during his stay
here has been able to perform much
valuable service for the islands, outside
OF the work that specially brought him
here.
Delegate Kalanianaole and Mr.. Nc
Clellan went to the War Department
Saturday, where they had conference
with Secretary Taft, about a confrma-
ton by Congress of right of way
through the military reservation at Ka-
hauiki for the Oahu Railway and Land
Company. The secretary has favorably
recommended to both houses OF Con-
gress the confirmation OF such a grant,
which is regarded as 2 good step for
ward.
FORTIFICATIONS BILL.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Haywood, as we'll
as others here, have been active in Sc
curing a favorable action on the item
of $4,000 in the Notifications Bill. as
it passed the Senate for Notifications
on the Hawaiian Islands They saw
Representative Llttauer, OF New York,
the leading conieree on the part OF the
House, recently He told them that il
was useless 10 hope for more than Saoo-
600, which was the sum agreed to by
the House, when the bll was under con
sideration there Bul the prospects are
good that a provision Tor that amount
will be allowed lo remain i'm the bill
Mr. Smith Mr. Haywood and Mr. Me
tlelan have been very industrious In
urging Au appropriation ION luulhcl-
lions nom lnr time lht subject was
hmlrhri n lhr lnnar llid h n1t
hnn iuf them lhr appropriation would |
probably mNr hI'ri altogether a There
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