The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-06


to discuss the telephone problem.
The present bill in the Legislature
of the Standard Telephone Company,
which proposes to procure franchise
for the installation of the automatic
telephone system, was the one discuss
ed. 1t was criticized by most of those
present, for various aAeged defects,
but all were of the opinion that the
new system would be welcomed, even
if the cost of the two systems involved
a greater expense upon them. The mat
ter was finally referred to a special
committee which is to report back to-
morrow evening at 1880.
THE DISCUSSION.
President Smith said the meeting was
called to consider the bill now before
the Legislature for the construction of
a new telephone system. Mr.. Smith
said that two years ago a committee
reported on the present telephone sys-
TEN, with reference to the franchise
which was being sought for by COM
petitive company.
In response to a call for an ex-
preston OF opinion. Col. Soper said
the company was one organized in Ho-
nolulu, and that DIR. Wood was presi-
dent; d. Kawananakoa, vice-president;
R. Barnes, treasurer: Col. Soper, secre-
tary; j. K. Brown, director.
The company would seek all capital
here.
Mr.. Barnes said he had letters from
at least a dozen places where the sys-
tenn is installed, all speaking highly Of
it.
J. o. Lutted sait. the new company
should be given liberal inducement. The
present system could be improved upon.
There should be some resolutions
against merging with the old company.
K. B. Porter was in favor of the new
| system, but it would require most bust
ness houses putting in two phones.
Jim Quinn had had lots of experience
| with phones here, and he had always
come out second best. 1t might be
| cheaper for business houses to have two
| systems.
F. J. Waldron felt that letting in a
| new company would be like the Rapid
| Transit Co., coming in and eating up
Pain S system.
H. H. Williams said the present sys-
| tenn could be improved upon. A man
who came around to look at phones
said the present trouble was all the
| fault of the Exchange girls.
| Mr. Wichman said that much of the
| abuse heaped upon the present system
was not deserved when taken into con
sideration with those in other cities.
He thought the proposed franchise was
| too liberal He thought the conduit
! system should be extended to one and
| one-half miles. The Government should
be reimbursed for valuable rights
given by a per cent on the capital stock
Mr.. Emmeluth said he did not believe
in granting franchises at ALL The en-
- (tD,,, ho1
told him their franchise was the most
| wide-open one he had ever come in con
tact with The network of wires over
| head was a disgrace to the city. He
| made some suggestions to be added tc
the bill. He wanted a provision in
serted preventing the company from
| selling out to the opposing company, OF
from buying out the older company.
w. w. Hall favored all wires going
underground. If better system than
the present one could be installed he
| favored 1t.
O. II. Berrev shared Mr.. Hall s views
F. w. Macfarlane felt there wa:
great opportunity for improvement. He
was on a joint investigating commit
tee two years ago. Both the Chamber
of Commerce and Merchants Associa
ton favored the report, whereundeI
the mutual system was condemned. The
mercantile bodies paved the way to
getting the new system, and the bill
was introduced by Mr.. Andrade, but
it was turned down on the first reading
| The community came to the front and
endorsed the new proposition, but the
| enterprise did not have financial back
ing. There should be a limit to the
charges. He suggested the company
| should pay the Government two and
one-half per cent of its earnings from
| the start.
Col Soper said the new telephone
system would be as great an improve
ment over the old Mutual as the pres
ent Rapid Transit Co. is over the old
mule car system operated by Pain. He
did not think it reasonable to compel
the new company to conduit it's wires
to a mile radius.
AS to backing, the company would
be cooperative as far as possible. As
to a possible increase in the capital
stock, the law provided a remedy.
President Smith said he would favor
the introduction of a system which
would give better service. If the old
company does not want to use the au-
| tomato system. some other company
should be given chance. Two com
panies could live here, and live well.
Mr.. Macfarlane at this point with
drew his suggestion that the wires
I sbonld be underground in all parts of
the citv. That would be unreasonable.
/ Robert Cation, as member of the
Joint investigating committee two
wears ago, moved the following reso'
luton:
Whereas. a joint committee of the
| C,banbar Of Commerce of Honolulu and
| the Merchants Association of Homo
lulu. appointed in 1902. for the speelal
purpose of examining into ana re-
porting on the condition and efficiency
! of the telephone service in Honolulu,
I,i+b the assistance of experts dld
make an exhaustive examination OF
tba said telephone service, and ola
| report to the effect that the SAID tele-
phone service was inefficient ana ~
adequate to the needs OF TINS COM