Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-20

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the governor, tSee particularly sec.
Il
10 iliio street railway act: APP
proved Aug l. 1912. Sec. .. Extern
sions may be made on petition, with
the approval of the governor. Sec. ).
Motive power. such as the associa-
tons elect. subject to the approval Of
the governor Sec. 4. Location In the
streets such rs may be directed or APP
proved by the board OF supervisors.
Governor approves car equipment. Tx
tensions shall be made when directed
by the governor. secretary and chief
Justice. the circuit judge or the fourth
circuit and chairman OF the board OF
supervisors, or other officers dcsig-
mated by the legislature; with rigid
provisions as to conditions. when the
commission have authority TO direct
extensions, among which is that the
railway shall earn dividends of s per
cent on capital stock. Board of SUI
pervisoTs may require work TO be
done and repairs 20 be made. Sec. ..
Governor may control operation and
maintenance OF the cars. Sec. 8. The
boards with the approval Of the gov
'ernof. may make general rules gov
erning speed. Sec. . Rates OF fare
fixed within radius of three miles )
cents, outside to be fixed by the ASSOC
citation with the approval Of the gov-
ernor. Sec. s. The association, with
the approval of the governor, may
make regulations requiring operation
of the railroad. Sec 9. Plant subject
to inspection by the supervisors. Sec.
IA Governor to enforce terms.
"1gD Wahiawa Water CO... act OF
Feb. 6, 1909. Under this charter, In
case electric power is provided. the
rate to the government is fixed by the
bill. The company also has license
from the territory, which may affect
the powers of the commission.
He then applied the foregoing TO the
bills under discussion, showing what
effect the bills would attempt to have
on the public utility corporations enu-
merated.
He also referred to the following:
IV-Railroad companies which are
under the Interstate commerce act.
safety appliances act, and other fed.
eral legislation,
V-Carriers by water. which are
controlled by federal law.
He pointed. out cases in which II the
proposed bill was passed. confusion
would arise owing to the existing fed
eral statutes on the subject.
Mr.. Thurston subitted as basis Tor
a simple act the following memo
randa:
Abolish secrecy-compeI Publicity.
One of the chief factors. in connee-
ton with public utility corporations
which works against equality OF treat
Inent and fairness of rates, is secrecy.
Secrecy begets rebates, preferences
end unfair Determinations. IL public
ity OF all the rates, regulations and
transactions of public utility com
pany is secured, the mere fact OF such
publicity will, to a large extent, elm
mate many of the existing inequall
ties and abuses now carried on under
cover.
In other words, publicity, although
not a cure-all, is the remedy for q
great number of abuses by public utiF
ity corporations. Let secrecy be abot
;shed and publicity compelled, and
utility abuses win largely remedy
themselves.
There is nothing to prevent the
present passage of law prohibiting
secrecy and compelling publicity.
Power and Duty to Investigate.
Another factor, largely contributing
to abuse Of powers by utility corpora
lions is that there is now no partieu-
lar person or body OF persons charged
with the duty of investigating the
status and operations of public utiii-
ties. What is eyerybody's business
is nobody's business"
Let a commission be appointed, with
not only the power, but the duty To
investigate, on its own motion or on
complaint, the status, pnysica:, finan-
cal and legal, of each public utility
corporation operating in the Territory;
publicly investigate any charges made
and publish their findings.
There is nothing to prevent this be-
ing done now; and If a proper com
mission is appointed, fund OF 1nfor-
nation will have been accumulated
which will so clarity the present UNI
certain and muddled conditions, as 70
enable intelligent action to be taken
without danger of starting an ava
lanche of dispute, litigation and un-
certainty, as viii certainly be the case
il either of the pending bills is passed
in their present form.
Power and Duty to Recommend Rates
and Remedies.
A third factor of Importance is that
no special authority is now charged
with seeking and recommending a
remedy for abuses. acknowledged or
discovered. IL responsible commits
sion is not only authorized to investi-
gate and publish the rates and prac-
tees of utility corporations, but il
also charged with the duty OF max
ing recommendations of what changes,
in their judgment, should be made in
rates, conditions or regulations, ana
empowered TO advise corporations as
20 what, in the opinion OF the commits
sion. equity and. justice requires; and
is further empowered TO publish the
results of such investigations, with
n