Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-14
FISHER HEARING
Continued from Page II

year vas slightly over ! per cent
while, the income from other hold
ings, which consist largely Of sticks
aud bonds. amounted TO about y per
cent.
The company was originally OWED
by T. r. Foster & Co. The cOrUUa-
ton increased its stock to $600,0O. ,
There are no bonds outstanding nov,
he replied, TO the Secretary's quer.
When the Inter-Island finally took
ever in 1902, six men buying out tn
other interests and the stock beiT.
divided pro rata amoung them. They
paid $50 per share for the stock OF
the Wilder brothers and Increased
the company's capitalization TO ST.
SOC, 600.
This increase came naturally. he
declared, by combining the stock OF
the two shipping companies that the
six men purchased. They figured
their physical assets were worth the
$1,500,000
The Secretary then began an in
quiry into the Inter-Islapd rates, ask
ing first on what basis these are
fixed. Kennedy explained they could
not base it on mileage, because the
time consumed in carriage is due
largely TO the weather, the condition
of the wharves, the size of eargoes,
etc. He admitted that the present
rates were largely the outgrowth of
custom. H.. .s-....
The Secretary suggested that the
rates on steamship lines are often
largely a. matter of hit-and-miss,f or
guess-work. Kennedy said: YES, |
guess that is largely true. Kennedy
{ explained that the rate generally in
wharfage. The freight rate for gen.
eral merchandise from Honolulu to
Iiilo is about $3.50 a ton, he stated.
The rate for cheap freight from Hffo
to Honolulu is 81 ton.
How about pineapples?" Mr.. Fish.
er asked. Now that is something
the homesteader and small farmer is
interested very much In" said Ken
nedy, and proceeded to retail the pro-
cess of handling these cargoes.
Our officers, engineers and crews
receive the highest pay in the world, !"
he said, when asked concerning his
salary scale.
"This statement includes the cap
tains,' . and then told how they are
now paid for overtime and holidays.
Usually, he said, the crews are Ha-
waiians, who are paid about $40 a
month, with meals and hunks on the
boats. When they cant get Ha'
waiIans, even at those wages, which
is sometimes difficult, they take Jap
anese, Chinese or any others they can
get.
Hawaiians want to get into the
towns, he said in explanation of the
difficulty Of keeping labor on the
boats. He said no complaints Of
rates had come to his ears, and
thought he would hear of 1t IL any
were made of either rates or service.
He also denied that any report OF
complaints from wharyes in various
ports had come to him. He had
heard OF q commission investigation
of conditions at Kahului, Maui, but
did not know the details. The Secre.
rotary promptly produced the report
in book form, and read therefrom ex.
tracts declaring the conditions there
"intolerable" and appealing to the
Legislature for relief from the high
rates charged there.
The Secretary asked why the reg
ulation Of wharfage there shouldn't
be done by the Government. Ken
hedy replied that would be all right
He admitted that his business does
not come under the rules Of the Inter
State Commerce Commission and
Z asked what he would think if a Local
commission were given authority
over It, said. it would be welcomed II
the body were unbiased in its work
ings.
Ashford then mentioned that an at
tempt in Congress to put the Inter
Island under the authority of the In
ter-State Commerce Commission ant
asked If 1t were not true that Ken
nedy had gone to Washington to head
off that movement. Kennedy admit
ted it was true, adding his reason
that he did not think men in the
East should have such jurisdiction be
cause they do not understand condi
lions in the. Islands. . u. 4.
' Ashford then took up discussion
of comparative freight rates betweeI
this city and Hilo and Lahaina
Though the mileage difference II
about $50 miles, the rates are viz
tually the same, Kennedy explaining
that loading and unloading facilities
make the difference. those at La
haina not being nearly so good a.
those at Hilo. -
The rate to Pepeekeo,1 this side o
Hilo. is $40 ton, he admitted.
After. fiye-minute diverting de
bate between Kennedy and Ashford
concerning the alleged refusal Of thu
Inter-Island agent to ship a consign
ment OF horse collars from Hilo Il
some way ports. the Secretary asket
if Ashford did not think a public util
ities or commerce commission shoul'
.delve into these questions of allege'
Discrimination. Ashford said h,
though that would be the proper SC
p luton. ~. ..... .-,,.. - 81