Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-08-15

at present bound to accept the term
Company. The amount OF freigh;
handled at this port is Sc ond only
to that of Honolulu, running close
on to 100000 tons year Probably
more than 25 per cent of this an
nual volume will be handled over
thu new docking wharf now build
ing, and at considerable saving
In expense to the railway company.
| We believe that the agreed rate for
tonnage tax on freight passing over
this wharf as shown on page 80 Of
the report is Unprecedented in the
Territory and entirely too high, ani
while we believe that encouragement
should be given TO private enterprise
In building and improving harbors,
landings and docking facilities, and
recognize that the revenue from
ships tonnage at the prevailing rate
of cents per ton, net register. per
day, is not sufficient for the main.
tenance and an adequate return on
capital invested, In docking wharves
outside of Honolulu, we also believe
that the shipping public would be
imposed upon in being forced to pay
such tribute as that proposed in the
agreement mentioned. Therefore, We
recommend, II new agreement can
not be had reducing this tonnage
tax at least 80 per cent. on all item1
mentioned, that the Legislature take
such action as may be necessary for
the acquisition of this wharf by the
Territory and extend the wharf 81
as to furnish docking facilities for
all vessels coming TO the port.
At the time the Legislature OF
1909 adopted the resolution which
provided for this Commission, a con
siderable number of persons ad-
vocatcd, through the press, the pub.
lie ownership of all wharves and
landings in the Territory, outside
of Honolulu. Some of the members
of this Commission undertook the In.
vestigation OF the subject predis-
posed to such public ownership, but
after 4 thorough examination we are
convinced that the Territory is not
In a position to undertake such own
ership. and that any such attemp.
would be unfortunate. both from the
standpoint OF the shippers and thu
Territorial officials. Privately-Owned
wharves and landings can be Oper
ated at less expense than those pub
licly owned. II the amount OF
freight handled at such wharyes and
landings was constant so that an
adequate force could be kept con.
stantly engaged. 1t is possible that
public ownership might be attempt
ed with fair prospect of success
Where the landing Il privately own
ed, the work required In handling
freight at widely-separated intervals
lean be performed by employees, VINO
Fare otherwise engaged by the pres.
.ent owners during the time when the
Handing is not In use.
/ At most of the ports outside of
Honolulu the vast bulk of freigh;
coming over the private landings Is
for the owners of the landings them
selves. II the Territory should con
struct independent landings at these
places, or should acquire the pri-
yate landings by condemnation OF
otherwise, It Is certain that the for.
mer owner OF such landing would
Insist on freight rate approximate
ly no more than cost OF handling
under its own management, and tn,
Experience has been throughout thi
Territory and in most other place
that without actual loss to the GOV
eminent, such rate could not b.
given. We see In more than one in
stance Government landings, built a
considerable expense. entirely aban
doned, and In one instance abandon
ed after single days use, for tn
reason that privately -owned and op
Grated landings adjacent were NOR,
convenient for the steamship com
panies,
We believe, however, that the in
tolerable condition existing at pres
ent, OF the public being at the mere,
of the landing owners, can be RENE
died very largely, by the act OF tn
next Legislature providing for III,
Territorial regulation of all landing
and wharyos. II IL tho case prac
tically IN every landing and whar
in the Territory that the owner o
operator Is so situated that he is ii
possession Of a practical monopoly
It has long since become an estab
lished principle Of Jurisprudence l.
the United States that where III,
private owner Is so situated that h
is in control OF monopoly affecting
the transportation or the storage o
freight, such owner Is charged witt
certain public duties and is liable I,
regulation. The principle onco hay
ing been established, we know OF n
reason why It should not be apple,
to the wharves and landings OF thi
Territory and we strongly recon