The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-03-31
RAPID TRANSIT
IN COMMITTEE
HOUSE MEMBERS LISTEN TO
PRAISE AND BLAME OF

At tho meeting called by the public
lands committee Of the house last night
to give tho public at large an oppor-
tunity to be heard on the proposal to
extend the Rapid Transit's franchise
until the year 1850, the apparent senti-
mont was in favor Of the bill, after GER
tain material amendments should be
made to 1t.
Those opposed to the measure were
first given an opportunity to be heard,
and Link McCandless lost no time in
getting the floor and making an ex.
tended address, covering the same
lground gone over in the afternoon at
another meeting, and which is stated
elsewhere.
Ex-Governor Carter, representing the
Country Club, spoke against the meas.
ure. He admitted that the Rapid Tran
sit was not so bad as it might be, but
thought it might be improved he
especially rejoiced that it was con.
trolled by his friends and neighbors
and was not owned by outside capital
lists. His principal plant was that as
yet the company had not extended the
line to the estranee of the Country
Club on Nuuanu avenue, and he was
, not sure that it intended to do So He
cited Rochester, New York, and Red
lands, California, as examples of where
could be found what other transit com
panies had been only too eager and will
ing to do for country clubs.
II, t. Mills of Kaimuki spoke against
the bill and suggested that the way tC
determine public sentiment in the mat
ter was to have a referendum, the same
as was done in the recent plebiscite
or else that it should be postponed unit
the next legislature and in the NEAR
, time the people could think it over ant
next fall they could send to the legis
lature those who favored their view
relative TO extending or not extending
the term Of the franchise.
Central Club Suggestions.
! Albion Clark of the central improve
+ ment club said that his club, represent
: ing all parts of the city, had held {
+ meeting in the afternoon and that i
{ was decided that they favored the ex
q tension of the franchise if certain
8 amendments were made to the pending
bill.
In regard to combustion engines, i
was the idea of the club that thes
: sould not be used during the day, I'm
I; less it should be necessary on accoun
/ Of breakdowns.
1t was also the opinion of the clu
L that the present provision in regard
!, the percentage should remain, with tn
amendments. fBut at no time fror
L and after the first day of July, 1911
J shall said corporation pay less than tw
/ and one-half per cent. of its gross carr
u ings to the government"
!, The club also thought that the GOV
J. eminent should have the right to amen
! OF repeal and the right to purchase til
l. franchise at any time.
: The club recommended that publ
. service commission be appointed, col
: sisting of the Governor and the supe
y intendent of public works and thre
). Others to be appointed by the legisl;
I ture, whose duty it would be to regl
d late and arbitrate all matters in regar
IT to schedules, extensions and rates {
'e fare.
5, The bill should also be amended
d provide for a five-cent fare and at leai
" n ten.minute schedule to be maintaine
on all existing lines.
:; Also it was thought that the phraI
e in the bill providing that no cars shoul
: be operated propelled by the use I
!. steam or animal power "between Il
:. seacoast on one side and line draw
;. parallel thereto approximately mi
L and half distant therefrom upon Il
d other side," should be changed to res
4 ." three miles therefrom.
+; The club was not opposed to permi
r, ting the transit company to transpo
d freight over its lines, provided It mai
d tanned a uniform schedule and charge
= a uniform rate.
.. ''The members of the central il
/. lprovement club" said Mr.. Clar
j. q come from all over the town. Sc
" eral meetings have been held. At fir
ia the members of the committee appoin
at ed to consider this matter were ki1
D. of kanalua about the extension, b
is now we favor it, but under the amen
IS. ments have stated"
n. A Home Company.
= George W. Smith compared the pre-
e ent system with the old days of 4
= tramway system. This, he said, W
v owned by English stockholders. T
~ present system is owned by home pc
= Pile we know. He called attention
Il the increased value of property in I
!. sections of the city, which he aStri
=, uted largely to the extension Of t
- Rapid Transit system. eff the corr
Il. ration has not lived up to its agrs
~ ments," he said, ait is not to
y planned, but it is the fault OF meg
a genee or oversight of those entrust
y with the execution of the laMa.n