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

chise of this kind In this city under
the existing circumstances. Only
extraordinary conditions could justify
this. The disadvantages 70 the public
are many and great Two franchises
OF the same kind would mean two sets
of poles and wires and double mutLla-
ton OF trees to interfere with the use
OF the streets and mar the beauty 0f
the city. It would mean IN large part
double investment or capital and
double cost Of maintenance, and con-
sequently higher rates In order that
there might be fair returns on the m
vestment. Ii would mean also In
large measure trouble price to be
paid by the city IN case L should ever
desire to purchase the property Of the
companies and conduct the business It
self.
There are two methods Of reguint-
ing private business. One Ii By com
petition; the other IL by public con-
troll Most businesses other than pub
lie utilities may safely be left pretty
much to competition. Not 50. how
ever, public utilities. especially those
that use city streets. These. as 81
most universal experience has shown
and as the highest authorities agree,
should be conducted as legalized but
regulated monopolies.
Whether competition or public con
troll Is relied on for the regulation Of
public utilities, In either case there
must be double obstruction OF the
streets and higher rates. Il there are
two companies. But compatition can
not be relied on. Il Is snare and 9
flelusion IN such cases. for the diner
ent companies sooner or later almost
Of necessity consolidate or enter into
mutual agreements or UNDERSTANDINGS
as to rates. On the other hand, Il pub
lie control is relied on. as It 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.
at is true that in some cities there
are two or more electric light and
power companies. for, as q writer has
recently said in one Of the best works
on this subject: In spite Of the prac-
ideally uniform experience Of cities,
the (public )authorities still cling 70
panies, but giving each the right to
the regulation Of public service ufiIl-
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
companies, which IN q few years, BY
the inevitable logic OF events, either
absorb their predecessors or are abb
sorbed by them" There Is no occa-
sion for two companies of this nature
IN q city no larger than this. IN some
of the larger cities, where 1t 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
public utilities commission bill has
now become law and q bill has been
passed to bring under the provisions
Of that law the present electric light
and power company. That company
also has signified its readiness to be
brought under the provisions Of that
law.
aThe public interests alone should
be considered in this matter Neither
"a feeling OF generosity towards those
Interested In the proposed new COM
|pany nor a feeling that the present
royr,ronv has uof f7ona ffa fI1li d11fV To