The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-05-17

reference to the matter, its failure TO
act should not prevent us from exer-
cising any power and jurisdiction which
we see proper to exercise. / had an
opportunity to investigate personally
this matter, by talking with the people
about it and by seeing the situation,
and I believe am informed on the
situation existing there, and have no
hesitation in saying think that the
amendment ought to be adopted, and
1 hope it win be.
Mr.. Goulden--I should like to ask the
gentleman from Mississippi il he knows
any reason why the territorial legislR.
ture has not acted in this all-important
matter3
Mr.. Candler-No; I do not.
Mr.. Goulden-Why they are derelict
in their dutyi
Mr.. Candler-I do not know.
Mr.. Manu- ask unanim NUS consent
that all debate on the pending amend.
ment close in ten minutes.
The Chairman-The gentleman from
Illinois asks unanimous consent that all
debate on the pending amendment close
in ten minutes. Is there objection7
There was no objection.
Mr.. Stevens of Minnesota-Mr. Chair
man, this is none Of our particular bust
ness, except as we have the response
bility of legislating for the best ad.
vantage of the people of the Territory
of Hawaii; but before this amendment
is voted upon / think We should under
stand the effect of it. 1t will extend
the operations of the interstate COM
merce act to Hawaii. That is to say,
that every carrier by water from one
port to another port in the islands would
be obliged to file a schedule of rates at
every port that he would touch, show
ing rates as to all property and per
sons, and he could not change any of
those rates except on thirty days no.
tice fled in writing with the interstate
commerce commission in Washington.
And il any individual in the islands
had any complaint against any of these
rates he would be obliged to file that
complaint with the interstate commerce
| commission in Washington, 1000 or 5000
miles away from the seat of the com
plant. In other words, it would prac-
tically prohibit any possible complaint
against any schedule of rates fled under
the provisions of this act, and in that
respect operate as almost denial of
justice.
Now, 'have been fortunate enough
to be in Hawaii, and know a little
something about the traffic there, There
| is a monopoly by one great system of
carriers, and this amendment might as
well be labeled ga bill to continue the
existing monopoly for all future time, "
because that is the way it would OPP
crate. When L was there three years
ago there were few little independent
| boats running from one island to an
other, little schooners or sloops, carry
ing goods between the islands, operated
by poor men, who make a living in that
way. That traffic would be absolutely
prohibited by this amendment, and such
people would be prohibited from COM
petfng with such monopoly and so shut
out of business, so that this would give
a complete monopoly to the company
which now has almost entire control of
the traffic between the islands.
MIR. Dawson-What the gentleman
says in relation to this amendment as
to water rates in Hawaii would apply
with equal force to the few railroads
that exist there.
j Mr.. Stevens of Minnesota-Of course
\ Mr.. Dawson-So that the bill is Of
no value in regulating railroad rates
there7
Mr.. Stevens of Minnesota.-The sit.
uation is entirely different between
ailroads and water lines. If the gen
| tleman viii remember, the Interstate
Commerce Commission has had juris'
diction for twenty-five years as to rail
roads, and nobody has suggested that
their jurisdiction applied to water
rates. This is the first contention by
anybody, practically, that it should APP
ply to any water rates in the country
and the reason is this: Any person wirr
an investment of a very few dollars
can get some kind of water craft and
go into any kind of business he wants
to between ports in the United States
We want them to be as free as water
to make any kind of rates they want
at any time; to do business with any
body without any notice or account
ability to anybody for the rates they
make. This amendment prohibits that
freedom in Hawaii.
!, Mr.. Mann.-If this law is enforced
in Hawaii on interisland traffic, would
, lit be possible for anybody to charter
boat to go from one island to another
, for the purpose of carrying passen
BtEsy cNCH luE Oue biip4
: Mr. Stevens of Minnesota.-It would
not, unless he complied with all the re
quirements. In other words, all excur
, sion business is practically prohibited
by the proposed amendment.
: Mr.. Mann.-Unless he filed schedule
! thirty days in advance with the Inter
, state Commerce Commission in Wash
ington2
Mr.. Butier.-How much time woult
be required before you could have
special rate7
Mr.. Stevens of Minnesota.-It woul'
be several weeks. In other words, yol
could not get an excursion from on
, island to another under the provision
of the act, and all little truck schoon
ers carrying freight for another viii
4 be prohibited.
Mr.. Good.-The present law apple
to the railroads in the Territory of Ha
waiii
Mr.. Stevens Of Minnesota.-Ye
4 Mr.. Good.-Then the same objection
! that the gentleman is making to thi
= provision certainly obtain as TO TIN