The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-03-08


ter wait, necessarily quite long, Ha
waiian affairs will be taken up thi
| week before the House COMMITTEES oil
Territories. The subcommittee, o
which Ex-Governor Powers of Maine
! is chairman, that has in charge tn,
franchise bills, expects to give al
early hearing. Hon. w. O. Smith o.
Honolulu, who has been here for Q
couple of weeks and in the meantime
has been explaining features of the
electric light bill to individual members
and others having right to know
about the purposes of the legislation
is ready to go before the subcommittee
Mr.. G. b. Mcclellan of Honolulu, who
has come in the interest Of rival con-
Germ, is expected in Washington by to-
morrow at the latest, having telegraph
ed few days ago that he was on his
way across the continent. Mr.. d. l..
Wilmington, who has come in the In
terest of the gas franchise bill, is at
the Ebbitt and was at the Capitol Sat-
urday yesterday renewing acquaint-
ances with some of his old California
friends.
I'VE have been waiting chiefly to al
low the representatives of various in
terests involved in these bills to reach
Washington" said Gov. Powers today.
I'VE want to get them all together and
have comprehensive hearing. That's
about all one can say now"
do you think the bills will be fav-
orably reported from the subcommit-
tee, of which you are chairman" was
asked.
well, If something can be done to
properly limit the term of the fran
chises and assure a reasonable price
for the utilities in question, think the
bills would be favored" replied Gov.
Powers.
Mr.. Wilmington, who is here for the
gas company. has stated his willing
ness that the thirty-five year term for
his companys franchise should be
eliminated altogether and no term
Congress being given the
power to alter or repeal the franchise
any time it Desires" was suggested.
We'll, that is good" said Gov. Pow
ers. THAT would help the bill great
ly. We do not like the idea of a
thirty-five year franchise"
Mr.. w. o. Smith today, as he and
Mr.. William Haywood and Mr.. A.
Gartley of Honolulu, were leaving the
Shoreham hotel for the Capitol, ex-
pressed the view that everything was
moving along nicely for 1.-The electric
bill. He predicted that whatever diff
ffculties there may have been in the
way of that measure would be remov-
ed. Mr.. Smith evidently has strong
hopes that the bill will pass the House
IN due season.
Mr.. Wilmington, who had a long talk
With Representative McLachlan of Los
Angeles, friend of former days, was
seen at the Capitol. He stated that
IN early hearing was expected not only
IN the gas bill but also on the electric
light bill and explained that he was
willing the provision for a
hirty-fve year franchise should be
stricken from the gas bill entirely.
We shall be entirely satisfied" said
he, with provision for a perpetual
franchise, coupled with provision that
congress may alter or repeal the same
my time it chooses. We are willing
o take our chances on that"
Touching the matter of general law
flowing the Legislature of the Terri
DRY to prescribe under what terms
harters shall be granted, Mr.. Withing-
on said he, thought it would not be
aVored in the Islands. That seems to
'e the attitude OF other Hawaiiars
lere. Representative Spalding OF
Worth Dakota, who introduced the bin |
o strike from the organic law author |
" for the legislature to grant fran !
hises, said today:
The bill seems to be misunderstood
n the Islands. AS the law now Is the
legislature can not grant franchises
'lthout the approval Of Congress. I
'ouid strike from the law those words:
without the approval of Congress-
hat would make 1t encumbent on the
legislature to enact a general law for
'suing charters to corporations. 7 am
ware there are two sides to the oues-
lon. But I nevertheless believe that
ne proper way to do is to have a gen.
raj law for the granting of charters
me difnculty would be that there are
o CIVIC authorities in the towns and
tues or the Territory to grant the
'ahchises to corporations after thew
ave peen organized and given a char
r. believe. however, that could be
ranged by lodging the power with
'me OF the Territorial authorities.
what the fate of my bill will be I
'nnot say. There Is opposition tn n
the House Committee on Territories,
eiesate kalanianaole does not ap-
rove OF It,"
Mr.. Wilmington expressed tho ,,or.
iat IT was not good policy to under
IKE changes in the organic law of the
'rritory' any more than 1t is good
,hcy 10 undertake changes in the con-
tuition OF a state. except when there
a great popular demand for the same.
unsettles conditions {
THE COUNTY BILL.
representative Spalding Is chairman !
the subcommittee that has charge
the county bill The efforts TO re-
We that legislation have been mem
oned In recent letter. A hearing