The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-03-21


Should have me powu ~ invustissts
nii such hhhhtIa I'll transactions aha 90
inluife into ihi bona hdcs thereof -
Summary Of Foregoing Points
The bills have been drawn with in.
sufficient knowledge and consideration
Of local conditions and complications,
and insufficient study OF conditions aud
developments abroad.
The bills are practically tho Califor.
MIA Act transferred bodily 10 Hawaii,
whore the legal aud other conditions
atu entirely different without the
slightest attempt 60 adapt the act 10
local conditions.
Tho California Act h. verbose and
redundant In style, difficult To follow,
or understand IL occupies IS sections
aud ~ pages In the printed book. Tho
pending bills follow 10 in this respect.
Whatever is done should be done IN
concise clear language
INC bills cover complete control over
all utilities, making no exceptions, ig
noring the fact that jurisdiction over
all public railroads in the Territory has
been vested in the interstate commerce
commission; that federal franchises or
charters have bcon granted To ten OF
the leading public utility companies,
with rights and powers which cannot
/ be taken away by the local legislature;
and that number of other utility com
panies have charter and contractual
/ rights and agreements with the govern
mont, inconsistent with certain powers
I proposed to be granted to the commits
sion, and which they cannot be deprived
of by the legislature.
Tho bills cover such a wide field, and
such a multitude of duties, that it will
require men of broad knowledge and
WIDE experience; and number of ex-
pert assistants, to adequately admins
ter the law This will involve larger
salaries and heavier expense than
tho present resources and requirements
of the Territory Justify.
J The provisions empowering the com
mission to absolutely control the issue
of stock and bonds involve n question
which is new in Hawaii and compara-
lively new on the mainland. IL was
strongly opposed by n national commits
sion headed by President Hadley, of
Yale University, appointed by Presi-
dent Taft, and their recommendation
was approved by him in 1911. 1t in
wolves n principle that is still in
formative condition, the wisdom of
which is now under debate. There is
no urgent condition shown OF suggest.
cd, requiring immediate action thereon.
In this growing and undevelopod Sec
ton Of the country, if adopted, it may
seriously hamper development and ex-
tension of public utilities.
Experience on tho mainland has
'shown that powers conferred upon a
commissions:
i % To investigate public utilities;
their finances, rates, methods and facili-
ties;
(2) To publish facts and findings re.
lating thereto;
(S) To make recommendations for
changes in rates, and improvements in
service;
have gone far toward remedying con.
ditions complained of.
A commission consisting of, say, three
persons now in salaried Office, say. the
secretary of the Territory, the attorney
general and the superintendent of pub.
lie works, with salaried secretary and
stenographer, with full powers of inves-
tlgation, publication and recommenda-
ZION, can be created at once at small
expense.
The authority suggested has, on tho
mainland, been found to accomplish
much good. 1t will, moreover, afford
opportunity to accumulate, compile and
publish data and information bearing
on the subject, which will enable in.
telligent consideration and study of tho
complex subjects involved; upon which
further action can be taken later If
found necessary, with clearer under.
standing of what can and what cannot
be done, and what needs to be done,