The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-06


WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 21.-Af-
ter wait, necessarily quite long, Ha-
waiian affairs will be taken up this
week before the House Committee on
which Ex-Governor Powers of Maine,
is chairman, that has in charge the
franchise bills. expects to give an
early hearing. Hon. W. o. Smith o.
Honolulu. who has been here for
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 a rival con-
Germ, is expected in Washington by to-
morrow at the latest, having telegraph
ed a 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.
1--WE want to get them all together and
have a comprehensive hearing That's
about all one can say now
do you think the bills will be fav-
orabiy reported from the subcommit-
tee of which you are chairman" was
asked
We'll, if something can be done to
properly limit the term of the fran
| chisas and assure a reasonable price
for the utilities in question, I 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 company's franchise should be
eliminated altogether and no term
mentioned, Congress being given the
power 20 d1ISI VI ICPOcSA tic IL oiNiAAoC
any time it Desires was suggested.
"Wen, that is good said Gov. Pow
ers THAT would help the bill great
ly. We, do not like the idea of
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 the electric
bill. He predicted that whatever diff
f1culties 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 long talk
with Representa- e McLachlan of Los
Angeles, a friend of former days, was
seen at the Capitol. He stated that
an early hearing was expected not only
on the gas bill but also on the electric
light bill and explained that he was
entirely willing the provision for a
thirty-ive year franchise should be
stricken from the gas bill entirely.
I'VE shall be entirely satisfied said
he, with a provision for a perpetual
franchise, coupled with provision that
Congress may alter or repeal the same
any time it chooses. We are willing
to take our chances on that
Touching the matter of a general law
allowing the Legislature of the Terri
tory to prescribe under what terms
charters shall be granted Mr.. Withing-
ton said he thought it would not be
favored in the Islands. That seems to
be the attitude of other Hawaiians
here. Representative Spalding of
North Dakota, who introduced the bill
to strike from the organic law author
ity for the legislature to grant fran
chises. said today:
1.-The bill seems to be misunderstood
in the Islands. AS the law now is the
legislature can not grant franchises
without the approval Of Congress. I
would strike from the law those words:
without the approval of Congress-
That would make it encumbent on the
legislature to enact a general law for
issuing charters to corporations. / am
aware there are two sides to the dues- /
ton. But nevertheless believe that |
the proper way to do is to have a gem !
eral law for the granting of charters |
One difficulty would be that there are !
no civic authorities in the towns and !
cities of the Territory to grant the |
franchises to corporations after they
have been organized and given char !
ter. believe, however. that could be |
by lodging the power with |
some of the Territorial authorities.
What the fate of my bill will be I i
cannot say. There is opposition to it !,
IN the House Committee on Territories /
delegate Kalanianaole does not ap- |
prove of it,
Mr.. Wilmington expressed the view
that it was not good policy to under |
take changes in the organic law of the
territory, any more than it is good
policy to undertake changes in the con-
of state, except when there
is a great popular demand for the same.
1t unsettles conditions.
THE COUNTY BILL.