The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-04-11
ATTACK AGAIN cENTERs
ON BISHOP
(Ernni Thnradav AcvertiserA

1t is strongly limited in the inside
legislative circle that in following out
second investigation of the depart
ment of public works affairs, ordered in
the senate yesterday, the probe might
be. conducted on the supposition of a
possibility of misuse of authority.
The resolution which ordered the in
vestigation is the second in two days
directed at that department and re.
lates, to the alleged preparation of a
contract on the part of the department
of public works to purchase power for
Ave years from the Hawaiian Electric
Company.
The fact that in each resolution the
contracting parties mentioned are the
department of public works, by its SUI
pefintendent II. X. Bishop, and the Ha-
waiian Electric Company, has brought
ovt comment to the effect that the large
interests In the Oahu Sugar Plantation
are the same as in the Hawaiian Eloc.
trie Company. aN
Bishops Fat Salary.
The further fact that the Oahu Sugar
Company is employing Bishop at twelve
thousand dollars a year has been men
toned. p1-
''It has been reported that the SUI
perintendent of public works or acting
superintendent of public works." says
the resolution, ISIS about to enter into
contract for period of five years
with the Hawaiian Electric Company
for the sale and delivery to the Ter
ritory . e of electric power to be
used in running certain pumps within
the city of Honolulu operated by the
Territory
Senator Coke states that upon hear.
ing of the existence of the plans for
such a contract he went to the depart
ment of public works to inquire about
1t and received evasive answers from the
assistant superintendent and other of.
ficiaaS. He eventually discovered, how
ever, that such contract was actually
drawn up and that it was on the point
of being signed. He entered protest
against it with the department Of pub.
lie works as well as with Governor
Frear and fastened to draw up the reso.
luton which he produced before the
senate yesterday morning.
Coke Is Skeptical.
"There is now in the appropriation
bill an item of $3.50 900" said Sena-
tor Coke, in explanation of his action,
yesterday, (which is to supply the de-
partment Of public works with its own
power plant. The Legislature is told
that this plant will pay for itself in
Ave years and 1 believe it is inclined
to- look upon it favorably as being a
pretty good proposition. Then along
comes this document which proposes to
tie the Territory up with a contract
TO buy power from this corporation
for five years without consideration of
the fact that within the year 1t might
have its own power plant. There is n
Niger in this woodpile and we propose
to smoke him odt''
Both this resolution and the one in
troduced Tuesday calling for an inves-
tigation of the twenty year water sup
ply contract with the same company,
are now In the hands of the select COM
mittee of Oahu senator's.
I'm discussing the two measures on
the floor yesterday, Senator Wirtz re-
ferred to the action of the department
as f'pernicious piece of work" while
Senator Judd addueed from it an argl-
ment for the transfer of the water
works system from the Territory to the
county.