Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-04
Merchants Association, Gov
ernor and Company Approve
the Latest Principles


|. Though the twig QuivCTed on which
the dove of peace roasted last night
at the third public meeting Oh the
bills before the senate for the extern
sion of the Rapid Transit i Land
Company's franchise, and though the
breeze of sarcasm once or twice sent
an ominous SILVER across his wings,
in the end he nestled down monarch
of all he. surveyed.
A new bill has been prepared by
Governor Frear, Attorney G. r. Hem
enway, representing the merchants
association, members of the aSSccia-
ton, and Richard Ivers, representing
the company, as the result of long
conference the general principle OF
which has met with the approval Of
the company, and it was upon this
basis that the dove consented to
aIight But its position was not with
out its uncertainties. Especially was
its stay critical when w. r. Castle
declared that the governor had made
intentional slurs on the company, in
sinuating that it intended to injure
the public and that it was a rapacious
concern. ~.
And still more critical became the
position of the bird when the chief
executive replied that he was justi-
fled in making the statements he did
when he contemplated what the COM
pany was attempting to perpetrate
on the public" with the first bill in
troduced. But the breeze died down
almost as quickly as it arose, and the
expressions of displeasure on the
faces of the governor and Mr.. Castle
gave place to smiles.
The governor before this had out
lined the changes made by the new
bill, "the latest edition." as he called
it. The only serious objection by the
company to it., was on the stfpula-
ton that sections IA and Is. of the
present franchise act should be re-
pealed !. By repeating these two sec
tons, it was said, the company would
be prohibited from making invest
ments in other interests, and would
also narrow the field of its opera
ton =. p. H.. ...-.. . -. = =. Ill
Will Discuss Differences ..s.,n- adj
A conference will be held by Mr..
Wilmington today, at which time the
effect of the stipulation will be
studied, and it may be expunged in
the bill to be offered to the committee
representing the agreement Of the
company and the merchants associa-
tion. Also a number of changes are
expected to be made, but these, it is
said, will be mere verbal ones.
Richard Ivers informed the com
mittee that the general principle of
the bill met with the approval of the
company. and that though there may
be few legal questions, he believed
they could be Strengthened out easily.
1t was after he had spoken that the
breeZes of sarcasm and denouement
began to blow and the fight between
the governor and the railway waxed
warm. ..@. =.
II will not yield one iot to the
governor in desire for the public
good but | do object when he makes
intentional slurs on the company to
make it seem we are out to do an
injury to the public" declared Mr..
Castle. '"This company is not here to
answer to high crime and misdemean-
or The company simply wants to do
its best. 1t is now before you for an
extension of it's franchise. Though
the governor says l am a, back num-
Der, | know at least one-quarter of
what he does" .:.....
- haf h.
pany had reached a point in its life
where much of the road had to be re-
built, and that for some time to come
much of the profits Of the company
must be used forF this purpose. ..:.
If Mr. Castle did not yield quarter
to the givernor, it is very true that
the governor did not yield quarter
to the company when he replied to
Mr.. Castle, and all the while the little
squad of peace stood on one foot and
then another, uncertain what to do.
Governors Answers Hot -.
When / contemplate what this
company was trying to perpetrate OH
the public it made my blood boil, >"
cried the governor, referring to the
bill introduced in the senate by Sen
ator Chillingworth by request. and
providing for the extension of the:
franchise. "They not only wanted to
extend their franchise but to cut down
the governments revenue to two and
one-half per cent of the gross trans
portation receipts. Did you ever hear
of anything like that? Can't you
trust us?' they would ask. No! you
can't trust them or any man with the
public welfare when his pocketbook
is on the other side"
The reply of the governor marked
the end of the stormy part of the
meeting. L. Tenney Peck, president
of the road, made a short talk in
which he substantiated the statement
of Mr.. Iyers that the company ap
proved of the principle of the bill.
Also he mentioned the proposed ex-
tension to Halawa in the district of
Eva, and declared that he did not
wish anything to be contained in the
new franchise bill which would pre-
vent the company making additions
tn 1iDaS 10 cboJro5 tho