The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-19
NAVY CHEF INDIFFERENT
To PEARL HiRBOR
WORK
CONTINUED from page u

temporary and any permanent improve
ments will be constructed at Pearl Har-
Dor only
Mr. Mcclellan has well recovered
from an attack of the grip, which kept
him in bed at the Riggs House for near
| ly week. He stated today that good
progress was being made with the cleo
trio light bill and that all Hawaiians
here are working in harmony towards
the enactment OF such measure as the
subcommittee has agreed upon
ELECTRIC LIGHT BILL.
The terms OF that amended measure I
forwarded in a letter some ten days ago.
1t was expected that the subcommittee
work would be adopted by the full COM
mittee early last week but two or three
meetings were held and the matter went
over, as members of the committee had
other important business to take up. The
subcommittee fixed a maximum rate
of fifteen cents per kilowatt for cleo
triclty in Honolulu but the discussions
in the full committee have shown some
inclination to put the price back to
twenty cents, as provided in the bill that
passed the territorial legislature. Mr.. A
Gartley, who has followed the proceed
Ings of the Territories Committee very
closely with Hon. w. O. Smith, has ap-
peared before the committee with some
carefully prepared statements about the
cost of furnishing electricity. His stats
tics about the cost in Massachusetts,
cities showed that a price of fifteen cents
for Honolulu, everything considered, was
far below what is being charged now
in these massachusetts cities. Mr.. Cart
ley's presentation has gone far to-
wards persuading the members of the
committee that fifteen cents would be
too low figure. Some think the COM
mittee will agree upon an upset price
or twenty cents with ten per cent dis
count for cash payments.
There IS also some agitation within
the committee for fixing the term of
franchise at ten or twenty years. 1t is
expected, however, that these matters
will be decided by the full committee
and probably be sent to Honolulu by
cable before this letter reaches there.
The gas bill is coming in behind the
electric bill and little of decisive char
acter has vet been done regarding it
The understanding is that the provisions
which the committee adopts for electric
bill will in the main apply to the gas
bill.
PHILIPPINE SHIPPING BILL.
The Philippine Shipping bill, in which
Hawaii is vitality interested, is still pend
ing before the Senate at this writing,
but probably will be considered anew
within few days and passed. 1t was
considered for two days in the Senate
and extensively debated, when the Naval
Appropriation bill was taken UP, having
the right of way. The important amend
ment, from the standpoint of Hawaii,
was that providing the law, requiring
all trade between the Mainland and the
Philippine Islands, should not go into
effect until July I, 1905. 1t is now free
ly stated about the Capitol that the eX-
pectation is to have free trade with the
Philippines by that date. 1t was the ex-
pectation of this which persuaded Sec
rotary Taft to yield his opposition
Nevertheless IL IS not altogether assured
that such bill for free trade with the
Philippines can pass Congress at the
short session next year
However, II is probable that the Ship
ping bill will pass Congress at this ses-
sion The House Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries has not been
giving the matter any attention during
the past week but hearings will be re-
sumed at an early date. 1t is probable |
that the Senate bill, which is expected |
soon to reach a vote there. will be taken |
up by the House committee and prob |
ably it will be that bill which the House |
Committee will report
MR.. ARMSTRONG'S LECTURE.
An interesting stereopticon exhibition
of Hawaiian views was given last Friday |
night in the banquet hall of the Shore
ham by Mr.. w. NJ. Armstrong, of Hamp-
ton, Va, and Honolulu, who has re-
Gently returned from visit to the Ha-
waiian Islands. The exhibition was
given for the entertainment of number
of Mr.. Armstrong; friends in the city,
the especial guest of the evening being
Mr. W. o. Smith. of Honolulu. Many
of the views, especially those depicting
mountain scenery. tropical foliage, cloud
effects, and Honolulu flower women,
were of remarkable beauty. The run
ming comments of Mr.. Armstrong on
the pictures were an additional source
Of delight to his guests.
The House Committee on Territories
was to have neld meeting this morn
ing to consider Hawaiian bills but was
prevented from doing SO by the absence
Of a quorum I'VE shall probably meet
day after tomorrow" said Representa-
tive Hamilton, the chairman, this after
noon Il have no doubt the franchise
bills will be reported favorably."
1t is learned that one of the difficult
ties besetting Hawanan legislation in
The House is complication over state
hood bills. The House Territories Com
mittee is a peck of trouble over those
measures, which are absorbing their
lime and attention.
Mr.. Wilmington. representing the in
-erestS in the gas bill, has Just returned
from a second visit to Massachusetts.
He was guest Saturday evening OF the
Bar Association at Newburyport, Mass.
LIGH HOUSES.
Delegate Kalanianaole was at the
Treasury Department q few DAYS ago