The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-03-21
Debaters Found That a
misunderstanding
Had Existed.

/ day of the principles in the Rapid
| Transit franchise debate is believed
will result in satisfactory settlement
of the controversy and an agreement
upon n measure which win meet all
the requirements of Governor Frenr
and the public on the one side and the
! officers and stockholders of the Homo
| lulu Rapid Transit d Land Company
on the other.
Governor Frear and Secretary of the
| Territory Mott Smith were at luncheon
together at the club when they met
L. Tenney Peek, president of the street
ear company, and l.. A. Thurston, its
vice-president. They were also at the
club for luncheon. a few pleasantries
passed between the four. a good cigar
and a soda lemonade spanned the bridge
and in the friendly discussion which
followed it was found that each side
has been literally making faces at the
other, following out their Independent
conception of what they believed was
! involved in the controversy, with the
result that nothing had been accom-
plished.
Though details of the discussion
were not learned, sufficient was given
out to warrant the claim that the CON
tending parties will now get together,
calmly discuss the relative points of
the two franchise bills before the SEN
ate and arrive at an understanding and
agree upon mutually satisfactory bill
| for the extension of the franchise.
Not Prearranged.
eyes, it is true that Mr.. Mott-Smith
and myself, while at lunch at the Uni
versity Club at noon today, met Presi-
|
Governor Frear. "The meeting was
not prearranged and the franchise mat
| ter was not thought of until brought
| up during the course of our converse
tiOn. lengthy discussion folloNed
which added much light to the situa-
| ton.
That the meeting gave opportunity
| to discuss n question which was care
| fully considered by Secretary. Mott
Smith was evidenced in an interview
given out by the secretary early yes
! terday morning, before and idea of such
| speedy results had been entertained.
"Get together" is the keynote of
! the statement.
| Misunderstood, He Said
,"What is the question before the
house in this Rapid Transit matteri"
said Mr.. Mott-Smith. ~ would like
to clear up this question without hurt
to anyone s feelings and without infer
ence of any kind, for l believe the
question has been slightly misunder-
stood.
| The present franchise of the rapid
| transit company has fifteen to seven
teen years yet to run. During that
time the company has the right to
4 a. nj hn
by its franchise, without question, it
being matter of policy within the
company itself whether it will exercise
such privileges wholly or in part.
4 1.-The franchise was originally grant
ed to encourage a new company. I
know some of the early struggles of
the gentlemen who composed that com
; pany for ! was in the executive de-
partment of the government at the
: time. These gentlemen had courage far
, and away ahead of their brothers. They
did great public service. They rid
, the city of an obsolete and thoroughly
unsatisfactory mule tramway system
and substituted in its place the present
hnely equipped electric system
Paid Through the Nose.
"They had to pay through the nose
personal financial credit. They had
lawsuits, injunctions and other troubles.
There was an enthusiastic public, en-
thusiastic in seeing the money of some
/ one else go into an enterprise which
, was then considered foOlhardy. And
these gentlemen got n franchise a
franchise calculated TO encourage them
!, against odds - franchise which the
. people were glad to give them at the
time and which the people do not be-
! grudge them now, n franchise which
. before its expiration will have amply
|. compensated the incOrpOrators for all
. their time, worry and money even if
. only moderately exercised.
=. The Question Now.
, "Of course, there are many things
which the rapid transit company could
do under their present franchise, grant
J. ed, as ! have minated, TO an infant
= enterprise, rights which the people
= would not think of granting to a full
: fledged, fully.equipped enterprise of
, today or OF seventeen years hence.
I. This brings up the real question.
= q" What kind of rights should be
, granted seventeen years hence, or now
Tor an extension of franchise TO a
= rapid transit company fully equipped
:, with rolling stock and plant, irrespec-
= tive of whether Mr.. Peck or j. =. Nor.
|, gan or anybody else be then or now
- the president of the company or OF
whom the directorate Is composedl
y Again, should the people now de
), termine what such rights should be, or
y lenV" That question an latcri
!. Business Propositions
b. A. ! understand tho executive az.
!. tiiud'. iHr question OF oztension OF
4. if1E'.|.s tNt rights and limit tons A.
1. hf arhutDi Hereunder are purely bust
,. h' propositions d. .s uot us "a war
r. - Anderson q Eyaus B.. AnBerron.
81 Nm kl J WaehInu