Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-29
Governors Own Measure 0p.
posed at Public Hearing by
Street R. R. President

Just as those who have been fol-
lowing the fight over the extension of
the franchise of the Rapid Transit &
Land Company believed the series OF
surprises which have been attending
it were at an end. greater surprise
than any before was caused at the
meeting last night in the hall of the
representatives. when it was an
nounced BY Senator Judd that Gov
ernor Frear had prepared new fran
chise measure.
When the senator went on to state
that it had been drafted by the gov
ernor after having slipped friendly
lemonades at the same club table with
L. Tenney Peck. president of the
street railway company, new sur
prise lay in wait, for it was believed
by the large audience, assembled at
the first public hearing on the two
franchise bills now before the senate,
that the chief executives second
measure might meet with the approx
al of the trafn-way company, which
was shown. before Mr.. Peck con-
cluded his speech, to be far from the
fact.
Session Is Long
So long did the governor talk. TAX
ing up his bill and discussing ii ser
atm, and at such length did the head
of the railway company reply. that 1t
was almost II o'clock before the two
sides had been presented. And as
there we're number of other promi-
nent persons present, who desired to
take Some part in the discussion,
Senator Cecil Brown, chairman of the
Oahu select committee, under whose
auspices the meeting was held, an
nounced that a second opportunity to
discuss the bill would be given next
Tuesday evening in the same hall, and
invited those present to attend at
that time.
Both of the speakers came prepared
for an earnest fight The governor
had prepared, aside from the bill it.
self, a table showing the financial
operations and conditions of the road.
which he read and discussed at length
to bear out his contention that the
company could well afford to abide
by the franchise terms laid down in
his new bill. To offset these figures,
Mr.. Peck presented a table he had
prepared, which showed the figures
on profits, etc. of the company to be
considerably less than as the chief
executive stated he had worked them
out.
< And while the arguments were wax
ing not between the two, and while
dry figures were following dry fig
ures, now and then a ray of Shake
spears would appear Yes, gentle
men, it is in the bond, exclaimed
Mr.. Peck at one time as he was argu-
ing the rights of the company under
their present franchise. In his reply,
the governor took up the bond con-
tention, pointing out that If the cor
poration were going to insist on the
bond lit was time commission be
appointed to have some say in the
management of the railroad. And
though he spoke of the bond and
Shylock's name echoed in the hall
once, no mention was made of "the
ancient grudge," though they were
quoting from the same play.
When Senator Brown called the
meeting to order, Senator Judd rose
and after a short speech introduced
Governor Frear 1t was in his speech
that it became known that the chief
executive had written new bill.
"As result of sundry lemonades
had at certain club together by
Governor Frear and Mr.. Peck, the gov
ernor had drawn up a new BILL" stated
Senator Judd, after which the gov
ernor was called on.
Mobiles First Views
MY first bill which is now in the
senate was drafter hastily. Now that
Pve had more time to go into it cere-
fully, and have had conferences with
two gentlemen of the company, l have
draftedN second one, which be-
lieye to be much better, to be used
as a basis for the franchise act /
believe We should be extremely care
full in adopting any bill in this mat.
ter, and If we fix it at all let us, be
quite sure we fix it right The princi-
pie We should work on is one of fair
ness to the public and fairness to the
company.
AT one time it was believed that
the public would be best served by a
public utility company through compe-
tition, but that has been found I'M
successful, and we now know that it
is through monopoly. Only one rail-
way company should operate here-a
regulated monopoly. All through the
bill have borne this principle in
mind
The governor then took up the bill,
discussing its provisions thoroughly
Plan For Commission
He pointed out that in the second
section provision is made for COM
mission consisting of the governor,
secretary, chief justice of the terri
tory, first circuit Judge of the first
circuit and the mayor, and that this
commission may direct the company
to maintain or operate any extensions.
For some length he dweIt on the