Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-10

utilities commission, it may have been fOrgotte
that at the last session Of the Legislature bill
was introduced comforting upon the yarion
county boards what amount to public utilit
commission powers and that the bill died an in
glorious death Here in brief is it's history:
:; s. On Tuesday March T. 1911 the Hon. Ed Towse of
Oahu introduced H. B. No. 134, entitled An act to
authorize, empower and enable the board of super
visors other legislative body, any city and
fy or county to require and obtain information and
data of and from any public service corporation
any company, partnership, firm person engaged
in the business of carrying passengers and freight
for hire engaged in the business of manufacturing
generating developing and furnishing and sup
plying for sale, USE rental or distribution water ice
light, heat power, owning controlling any
appliance device for the sending. receiving
mission, transfer, exchange of messages and COM
munications. operating under any franchise involving
the OF the public streets and highways for USE
by way of rental or otherwise of, or to- or by such
city and county county the Inhabitants thereof
to fix the rates and compensation that shall be
charged and collected by such public service or pub
lie utilities corporation company, partnership firm
or person, for the transportation of such passengers
and freight or for the and consumption of the
water, light, heat power so furnished and sup
Piled or for the use and rental of such appliance or
device. or for any service rendered in connection
herewith, and prescribing penalties for failure to
comply with the terms and provisions of this act"
This bill, which had the distinction of holdin,
the house record for length of title, was referred
to the judiciary committee, and the followin,
extract from the house journal of Wednesday
March %, tells the rest of the story:
Your judiciary committee to which was referred
House Bill No. 1874, introduced by Hon. Edward
Towse, beg leave to report as follows:
Your committee believe that If any body is to fix
rates. for public service corporations that 1t should
be commission of experts properly qualified for
the purpose. Your committee therefore recommend
that this bill be tabled Your committee also does
not approve of the practice OF introducing bills into
this House Unless the introducer has bona fide in
tention of urging the passage of such bill
Respectfully submitted, Alfred L. Castle
chairman judiciary committee; VIM. j..
Sheldon, e A. C, Long, H. s. Richard
J. H. Coney.
Mr.. Sheldon moved that the report of the commit-
tee be adopted. Seconded by Mr. Correa Mr. Towse
rose to question of personal privilege stating that
the last portion of the committees report was re-
Election on him the introducer of said BILL and
moved that the report be referred back to the judi
ciary committee. The motion to recommit was sec
onded by Mr.. Watkins and lost
The journal record, too long for full quota
ton here, shows that after Mr. Towse raised sey
eral points of order, appealing from the decision
OF the chair, the motion to adopt the commit
tees report was put by the chair and carried
and House Bill No. 134 was tabled"
"A - T.