The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-22
CONGRESS MAY CONTROL
CONTINUED from Page II

| was claimed, justly or unjustly, that
some of these things We're kept from
| the committee.
/ Then Congress is in a hostile frame
| of mind on the franchise question 1t
has had some bitter experiences with
| franchises here in the District of CO.
| iumbia, for which Congress acts as a
sort of Common council. The telephone,
| gas, and street railway corporations
have in many instances defied Congress
The struggle has been d long and vio-
/ lent one. Senators and members are
| therefore very cautious and conserva-
| tive in handling the franchise question
| for other communities.
MODIFYING HOME RULE.
The ugly phase of the situation for
Hawaii is the, talk in Congress, as the
result of the electric light and power
| bill, of assuming control of franchises
| for the islands and to some extent de-
| prfving the territory of Home Rule.
| Chairman Hamilton, of the House ter
ritory committee, and Representative
Robinson. Democrat but chairman of
the Subcommittee in charge of the
electric bill, both expressed to me the
view that that is what the situation
may develop. They say that the amend
ments, which must be added to the
franchise bin before it can become law,
are virtual assumption of legislation
for the islands, which the territorial
legislature ought itself to have attend
ed to. 1t is believed that this view will
eventually be moderated but the con-
d1tlonS just now can not be overlooked.
The bill was brought into the House
last Wednesday under bad auspices.
Ex-Gov. Powers, of Maine, one of the
strongest men on the territories conn
mittee, had told his associates that the
measure ought to be more carefully
considered and safeguarded. He was
very busily engaged on another COM
mittee, hearing arguments in a con-
tested elections case, and while giving
Hawaiian matters usually very close
attention himself, had not done so in
the case of the electric bill. He was
much surprised to see the bill called UP
before the House without some modi
fcations. Then Representative Lilley,
of Conn.,, member of the territories
committee and new member of the
House, thought some of these modif1- i
cations should be made. He could have
this without an open
fight on the floor, had he been little
ing business in Congress. But not find I
ing certain members of the committee
willing to yield quickly to his sugges-
tons he fastened to Representative
Payne, of New York, the floor leader,
and others, quick to take up the gage
of battle. With such men opposed
here was no chance of the bill pass
ng the House and they forced it back
o the Committee for further consider
alton.
The debate on the bill was largely of
IN explanatory character. After the
,ill had been read and all the reports
md correspondence affecting it, Mr..
payne began to ask Mr.. Robinson ques-
ions about the term for which the {
harter was to run. why did the
Committee on Territories recommend {
his period of thirty-five years for this
franchise, which seems to be an ex-
lusive franchise practically?" said Mr..
'ayne, who then observed that there
vas nothing in the report, on the bill 9
0 contradict a statement made in a !
eport of the legislature that the citi-
ems of Honolulu are opposed to any G
hing beyond ten years franchise.
Mr.. Robinson assured Mr.. Payne that 9
hat statement was contradicted in the 8
ontext of the report, preceding and 2
blowing the passages to which Mr..
'ayne referred. -
Mr.. Payne expressed surprise at such Q
statement from Mr.. Robinson who
aid that that passage was probably 2
ut in the report to placate some MEM G
err of the Hawaiian legislative COM
1ittee as he signed the report for the 6
assage of the bill. g
fkan rfc
hing to do observed Mr.. Payne in 2
eply. =
THE Delegate of the Hawaiian Is =
lnds is here introducing this DILL G
lid Mr.. Payne. asking to have Con- Y
ress approve this act. 1t may De 9
lat the citizens of Honolulu do not g
now that it is necessary to have the 8
It approved.
Il am sorry" replied Mr. Robinson B
that the gentleman from Hawaii Is G
OF here to defend this bill, but we y
ust do the best we can in his absence, 9
nd we will try to give the gentlemen
the House all the light we can. d
At this there was a howl of laughter \
1 both sides of the House, the MEM y
ars- having read in the local papers e
DIV the Delegate had insisted on pass 3
Lg the night at a ponce station anu q
,fusing to put up collateral for his =
ppearance at Police Court, on ac- 9
punt of an arrest, which he claimed
as an outrage upon him. 70
Mr.. Payne asked whether the entire e
ress of Honolulu had not opposed the 3
ing term of the franchise when the 9
III was before the Legislature but Mr.. q
indicated that there had G
robably been no unanirnity of opinion =
mong the newspapers on the subject. c
The House then turned from a dis
1ssion on the length of the franchise
a discussion of the price to be charg-
/ for electric light and power. This IL
as raised also by Mr.. Payne. Chair a
ian Hamilton observed that 1.-The gen. o.
eman from New York (Mr. Payne) in b
is questions to the gentleman from e.