Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-29
GOVERNOR vET0ES End
ELECTRIC FRANCHISE
Continued from page onel

chisc OF this kind in this city under
the existing circumstances. Only
extraordinary conditions could justify
this The disadvantages to the public
are many and great. Two franchises
of the same kind would mean two sets
of poles and wires and double mutila-
ton OF trees to interfere with the use
of the streets and mar the beauty OF
the city. 1t would mean in large part
a double investment of capital and
double cost of maintenance, and con-
sequently higher rates In order that
there might be fair returns on the In
yestment 1t would mean also in
large measure a double price to be
paid by the city in case it should ever
desire to purchase the property of the
companies and conduct the business IL
self.
There are two methods of regulat-
ing private business One is by com.
petition; the other is ny public con-
troll Most businesses other than pub
lie utilities may safely be left pretty
much to competition. Not so, how
ever, public utilities, especially those
that use city streets. These, as al
most universal experience has shown
and as the highest authorities agree,
should be conducted as legalized but
regulated monopoiies.
Whether competition or public con.
troll is relied on for the regulation or
public utilities. in either case there
must be double obstruction of the
streets and higher rates, II there arc
two companies. But competition can.
not be relied on. II is a snare and q
delusion in such cases, for the differ
ent companies sooner or later almost
of necessity consolidate or enter into
mutual agreements or understandings
as to rates. On the other hand. II pub
lie control is relied on. as 1t must be,
one company may be controlled more
easily and better than two companies
and the rates may be kept lower be-
cause of the smaller investment.
ut is true that in some cities there
are two or more electric light aud
power companies, for, as a writer has
recently said in one of the best works
on this subject: in spite of the prac-
tically uniform experience of cities.
the (public lauthorities still cling to
panies, but giving each the right. to
the regulation of public service utili-
ties. Year after year and decade
after decade, the same old story is re-
peated, of franchises granted to new
street railway companies, gas COM
panies, electric companies, telephone
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the inevitable logic Of events, either
absorb their predecessors or are alb
sorbed by them" There Is no occa-
sion for two companies of this nature
in city no larger than this. In some
of the larger cities, where it has been
thought best to grant two franchises,
the evils have been partially avoided
by dividing the area between the COM
Conditions, however. have chang.
place its wires on the poles of the
other in the latter's area.
Conditions, however, have chang
ed since the passage of this bill. A
now become law and a bill has been
passed to bring under the provisions
of that law the present electric light
and power company. That company
also. has signffied it's readiness to be
brought under the provisions of that
law.
The public interests alone should
be considered in this matter. Neither
a feeling of generosity towards those
interested in the proposed new COM
pany nor feeling that the present
company has not done its full duty to
the public, If such a feeling exists,
nor the phantom of the remedy by
competition, should be permitted to-
mislead US into ignoring the lessons
Of past experience and plungfng the
city into difficulties from which those
who follow us will not find it easy to
extricate themselves and for which
they will not thank us. Let us at least
first make fair trial of the remedy
by public control, for the adoption of
which as general principle the pres
ent legislature deserves so much
credit"