Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-18
Bill
FINALLY PAST
UPPER HOUSE
Senate Passes Appointive Com
mission, Plan, Giving Body
Recommendatory
Powers

A public utilities bill finally went
through the senate this morning,
though denounced by several mem
hers who declared that the measure
rs practically useless were heard in.
the senate chamber. Amendments
were again offered by Senator Metz
ger to give the commission the right
to make orders and enforce them, and
once more were they voted down,
and the bin will now go to the house,
Tor the approval of the amendments
made by the upper solons, and thence
to the governor. only slightly changed
from the way it read on being sent
TO the senators.
Not only did the solons vote down
Senator Metzger's amendments, but
also did they defeat the effort to.
have the expense of the commission
Dorne by an assessment of one
fortieth of one per cent on the out
standing stock, and one-sixteenth of
cne per cent on the gross income of
the company, in place of fixing it on
one-fortieth of one per cent on the
stocks and bonds. He exclaimed that a
tax on the basis he proposed would
be more equitable.
At one time during the proceed
ings, when an amendment was being
urged, Senator Chillingworth ex-
claimed:
"The bill is practically useless any
how
+The bill is a makeshift," ejacu-
lated Senator Metzger." 1t was COM
posed, principally, by utility lawyers.
] shall vote against 1t.
Senator Coke voted for the bill.
my reasons for doing so" he said,
are that believe the bill unamend-
ed is better than no bill at all. In
some subsequent legislature it may be
amended to be made effective. 1t is
plain to anyone, on carefully reading
1t, that it is not public utility bill.
II doesn't give the utility commission
any power but publicity. 1t should
be given power to make orders, to be
able to say to corporation, Stop!
--and then enforce its order. But
vote for this bill because believe
II is step in the right direction, and
that in future day we win have a
stronger and better one"
Senator Wirtz stated that he also
believed that the bill was a step in
the right direction. When the vote
was taken it showedsthat all the SEN
ators. with the exec on of Senators
Raker, Brown and <&er had voted
for its passage.
The bill now pfor<les FOR a COM
mission, one member tf which shall be
raid $4,000 a year and the other two
members s1200 each The latter two
may be territorial ot kials. The COM
mission is to be appointed by the gov
ernor. The commission has the right
tc make full Investigations of public
utilities and may recommend changes
| in rates. service, etc, or it may take
up complaints and head plan for re-
course through the courts. Its prin-
eipal weapon, however. will apparent
| ly be publicity The argument against
giving the commission power to make
ratss and to enforce its orders is that
the present utility companies are un-
der federal franchise acts and cannot
be touched by territorially-made
body
Directly after the bill had been
sent to the house, Senator Browns
measure for the creation of the office
Of a gas and electric meter inspector
came up for final reading
Il vote for this" said Senator Metz
ger, because / believe the people
should be protected And yet am
mindful that the same situation which
necessitates this bill now should have
been covered by the utility act. /"
The bill passed third reading.