The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-05-03

sidering the matter with the members
! interested in the corporation and rep
resenting 1t, concluded 1t would be
| better to have no specified limit be-
cause the people interested in the
company claim that IL would be diff
cult for them to run the concern. bond
It. or procure loans on 1t II there should
be a limit of any specified number of
years
Members of the committee first
thought that perhaps ten years would
be sufficient, but finally we conclud-
ed to leave the matter without any
specified limit, the right being retained
by Congress- acting upon the sugges-
tion of the legislature of Honolulu,
to change or repeal this act as may
be deemed necessary hereafter, and
also giving to the courts in Honolulu
the right to change the rates, If, as
the years go on 1t should appear that
those provided in the bill are not cor
rect
"One other change we made. In the
original bill there is n limit of charge
to 90 cents per kilowatt hour. We
NilpuShb NliiN Npp "a 'llii Sc anu
on consultation with the people in
terested in the bill there was finally
an agreement, as I understand, that
the charge should be fixed at II cents
instead of 20 cents.
Some members OF the committee
thought even this charge too high; but
the members interested in the corpora
tion showed us that even in the state
of Massachusetts, in twenty cities hav-
ing less than 5000 inhabitants, the
charge is about this amount; and /
want to say to the House that the peo-
pie of Massachusetts, are as anxious
as people anywhere to secure them
selves in matters of this kind against
anything like overcharging; they want
to get things as cheaply as they can.
They have no money to throw away
at the present time, and l Will add
they will have less If Congress does
not allow us freer trade, and there
fore more abundant trade, with our
near neighbors and people just across
the imaginary Canadian line.
I'VE provided further that super
intendent should have charge of this
matter and conferred upon him author
ity to act under certain conditions.
Lastly, we provided that this company
might bond or mortgage their property
to Il limit not exceeding sixty per cent
of its actual value. believe that every
of the committee has given
attention to this matter in the hearings
we have had; and / will add that this |
corporation, whose representatives, ap- |
peared before us, seemed to us very |
honorable corporation, seeking nothing |
more than they were justly entitled to- |
No one found fault with it at home;
no one came before the committee to
criticise it or object to the request of
the company or to suggest that the |
company was attempting to overreach |
or secure any unjust advantage. We
believe we have done what Is right for |
the corporation and for the people of
Honolulu, and that the bill as now re-
ported should pass"
Consideration of the gas bill follow |
ed Immediately. AS the gas bill had |
passed the Senate, making |
the rate $3.50, it was proposed to take
up the Senate bill, instead of the House |
bin and amend it for S2.25 gas but this |
was abandoned. This brief colloquy |
was all the debate in the House on the
gas bill:
Mr.. Spalding. / will state, Mr.. |
Speaker, that this bill provides, in the
same way as in the electric-light bill |
that we passed just now, for a fran |
chise to a gas company, permitting |
them to lay mains and erect works in
Honolulu. The main provisions of it |
, Ia IL
bill which we have Just |
passed. 1t is safeguarded in the same |
manner in every respect, and | do not |
care to take time to discuss it unless |
some one desires information on the ,
subject
Mr.. Campbell. Will the gentleman |
state whether or not this is the same
that has been given author |
ity to establish an electric-light plant
that is asking for this franchise?
Mr.. Spaldng. 1t is not the same cor
poration, and ii has no connection with |
it whatever; and, further, l might say |
there is this difference: The electric
light bill provides franchise for a
company already in existence in that
city, while this provides for a gas
yet to be organized, and gives
Il franchise and the right to use the
streets. 1t confers this authority be-
fore its organization so that they can
go ahead safely and organize.
AS both the bills had previously |
passed the Senate and as the House
had passed its own bills, it became nee
essary to arrange for the passage of
the House bills in the Senate. Senator
chairman of the Committee
on the Pacific Islands and Porto Rico,
was especially accommodating in bring
ng the House bills up at that end of
The Capitol He is always alert in be-
half of just measures for Hawaii but
never more so than in the present in
stance. Those representing the gas |
and electric companies here had receiv- |
ed authority TO accede to "A price of II /
cents for electricity and sees for gas, /
as provided in the House bills and ac- |
cordingly Mr. Foraker, on Wednesday, |
April 10, the day following the passage /
of those bills in the House, asked the /
Senate to pass them in place of the |
bills, This was done during the /