The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-04-03

49,
to the senate the names Of the follow
ing persons as members OF the utilities
commission: T.. "A. Mott-Smith, member
and chairman; J. N. 8. Willioms, mem.
bcr; A. j. Gignoux, member. These
Gentlemen were confirmed the same
day.
Republican Politics.
It thus appears that more than two
months before July ], 1918, Repub-
lican Governor nominated and, by and
with the advice Of a Republican sen.
ate, appointed members OF q commits
sion which was not then in existence
legally and which could not at that
time come into existence before July
4, 1913. The only inference that can
be drawn is that the then Republican
Governor and the then Republican ma
jority in the senate were "lookingl
aftes' their friends in political way.
The then Republican Governor knew
and the then Republican majority IN
the senate knew that the Governor
was going out Of office. Yet II was
important before a new Governor was
appointed, the name Of whom no one
could then predict, that the corpora.
tions affected by this act should know
the personnel OF this commission and
that the members Of that body should
be confirmed by the senate, which was
then directly or indirectly controlled
by the Interests, because new
governor after July ], 1913, might APP
point commissioners not satisfactory
to the elect which appointments
would hold good under the law until
the end of the next session Of the sen
ate, namely, until about the end Of
April 1915.
Salaries May Be Refunded.
In my humble opinion, il is 4 seri-
Gus question whether the salaries
since July ], 1913, Of the members ap.
pointed under such circumstances
should not be refunded TO the commits
sion s account in the treasury. A le-
gal opinion on the matter from law.
yer of high professional standing
should be secured at once, because
the sooner this question Is settled the
better for all concerned. A {.
The fine Italian hand Of the pnblie
utility concerns in this Territory in
endeavoring to postpone all action
with regard to public utilities, not
withstanding the planks heretofore
referred to in both party platforms, Is
seen when the files Of the Pacific Com
mercial Advertiser a paper CONTROL
ed by L. A. Thurston, the active head
of the Hilo railroad, one Of the Dill
lipgham concerns, are consulted.
In an issue of that paper Of March
~, 1913, il is suggested in n lengthy
editorial that possibly the time was not
ripe for the regulation here Of public
utility corporations.
In The Advertiser of March 20, 1913,
appears in the news columns state
ment of what was supposed to have
happened the previous evening before
the house Judiciary committee and the
senate public lands and internal inn
provements committee. At that time.
according to The Advertiser, a commit.
tee consisting of Messrs. Liza. Thurs.
ton, G. r, Hemenway, ID. l.. Whiting.
ton, r. b. Anderson and A.. l.. Castle,
practically all the public |
utility corporations in this Territory, |
and for one reason or an
other argued against the then pending |
utility bills, and if any utility bill had |
to be passed Gt not appearing that /
any of the committee distinctly favored |
any bill being passed at ally, IL was
further argued that a bill along the |
lines indicated by this pro bono publico
should be the one. E@ |
The present act is drawn on the lines
then indicated, namely, to have a com
mission with power az to investigate
public utilities, their finances, rates,
methods and facilities;. (2) TO publish
facts and findings relating thereto; and
I'd to make recommendation for
ihanges in rates and improvements in
service. E. |
Additional Power Slipped in.
These powers above referred to are
he ones given to the present commits,
sion with the additional powers slipped
INTO the bill by way of amendment
when it was going through the legis.
azure.
On March 81, The Advertiser had a
ong. editorial headed Investigation,
and Recommendation, ~ in
'onnoction with public utility CONCERNS,
he main thought being that the power
If recommendation without the bower
o enforce such recommendation was
in this Territory. In that
anne issue of The Advertiser, this same
representing the Honolulu
ihamber of Commerce, the Honolulu
Association and the Hawai-,
an Sugar Planters Association. The
,odies that control the political aud
financial destinies of every man, woman
md child permanently located in this
Territory, published an able elaborate,
and very, vary plausible
,rief with the same end in view, as
uggested editorially,. namely, inyesti.
,ation, publicity and Recommendation.
In The Advertiser Of April s, 1913
appears a draft of bill which Il mag.
ne was the one agreed on between the
Governor aud the gentlemen on this
ommittee, This bill, with some amend.
oents, also finally agreed to, passed and
became law. .... ~. Z, n
Advertiser Gave Advice II
On April 10, 1913, The Advertiser