The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-07

WASHINGTON, D. c., November q
1.-The status of railroads in the Hawai-
ian Islands has been informally but of
fcfally defined in several interestin,
particulars during the past week by tn
Interstate Commerce Commission. Th
followed hearing before Commission
days ago, at which Mr.. Sidney Ballou
| attorney for the Oahu Railroad ant
| Land Company, appeared. He was ac.
companied by Mr. L. A. Thurston anG
Mr.. F. NJ Hatch. The three commits
sioners We're all of the opinion that the
railroads of Hawaii are subject to the
railroad rate regulation law, as it is
an organized Territory of the United
States. Mr.. Ballou fully acquiesced in
that view 1t is understood that the
owners of the Oahu road have been of
the same opinion.
The commission held also that the
Oahu road should file all its tariffs,
both general and special, with the In
terstate Commerce Commission and
post the same at the several stations
along it's line, just as railroads on the
mainland are doing. The tariffs ac-
cordingly have been filed with the
commission, Mr. Ballou having brought
them with him from Honolulu.
TON n
the Advertisers Washington cor
respondent yesterday, indicated fully
what the attitude of the commission
will be with reference to questions aris-
ing with the Oahu road. It seems that
the directors of the road have had
doubts about matters of tariffs. AS
is pretty well understood among Ha-
waiian shippers. the road has contracts
with numerous plantations by which
sugar and merchandise are shipped at
special rates, differing in some cases
from the general public rates These
contracts in many instances were
made before annexation and for long
have considerable time yet to run.
Some of them We're on a sliding scale.
a certain rate was to be charged for
the first ten years. a lower rate for
he next ten years and so on.
Mr.. Ballou explained these contracts
% the commission, and Chairman
Knapp said yesterday that he and
others with him from Hawaii had
made an excellent impression, convinc-
ng him and the other two commission
RS present that the railroad was act
ng in spirit of fairness. While some
# these contract rates, which cover
ibout IS per cent. of the traffic of the
'ailroad, are somewhat lower than is
harged to other shippers, it was shown |
hat the difference was very small; !
lso that the plantations load and un- i
cad the freight at their end of the /
me and that the railroad received other |
privileges from them which could not |
e given bv general shippers. 1t was
rought out that there is disposition
n the part of the railroad to equal1ze
IS rates to all shippers as rapidly as
can do so without violating its con-
racts. Recently the contract with the
IVA plantation, that nearest to Hono-
llu. expired. The railroad forthwith
lade the same rate to that station Tor
II shippers as is given the Eva plan-
alton.
The directors have had some misglv-
lgs as to whether these contract rates
hight not make them liable under the
riminal provisions of the Elkins law.
his uncertainty was one of the chief
aasons why Attorney Ballou was dis
atched to Washington. The commits
on settles that very satisfactorily to
he railroad, its three members who
card Mr.. BaIlou holding that the rail-
lad can charge more than one rate for
given service. 1t must, however, file
nd post the various tariffs charged
hich, as already stated. has been
one. The commission does not under
Ike TO say that these tariffs will
stand. It simply acquiesces
the principle of the double tariffs.
any shipper should complain that
lie railroads charge to it is unjust and
reasonable. the commission Will !
AXE an examination as is provided by !
w and then decide whether the dis !
iminat ton is unjust and unreasonable.
ntil such charges are made and
owen the commission will assume
lat the discrimination are war
Lnted There is no danger of prose-
,tions under the Elkins law for these
examinations.
The commissioners nkened the situa-
on with respect to the Oahu COM
iny's contracts TO the rates charged !
: numerous railroads on the mainland {
II shipments of coal. Railroad OFF,
ais have long followed a practise of
.anting lower rates on coal that is to I
Continued on Page Two)