Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-04
THE RAPID TRANSIT FRANCHISE.

Congress the passage of the Rapid Transit
franchise extension bill brings this much
discussed and well-thrashed-out subject once
more into the arena.
Ii had seemed to be settled, so far as Hawaii
is concerned. Two years ago the territorial
legislature passed the franchise bill, after a
series of discussions and public meetings which
for acrimony Of repartee between Governor
Frear and Rapid Transit officials and for thor
oughness of consideration on the part of the
Merchants Association and others, ventilated
the entire matter as thoroughly as it could be
ventilated.
Whether Governor Pinkham has discovered
some new and vital facts relating to.the fnan-
eialtoperations of the company cannetsbe gath
cred Immediately from a perusaf of his letter
published yesterday. He has had an expert
accountant at work on the company's books
for some time and presumably the figures pub
lished yesterday are those collected and ana
lyzed under the governor 8 directions For a
laynan, or even for an expert without knowl-
edge Of this particular situation, to agree or
disagree with these figures is impossible, and
the letter itself is not clear as to what points
the governor is making In his analysis of the
.'territory's interest" in the sstreet railway
company The public in general will learn
little or nothing tangible from a statistical
analysis couched in bookkeeping terms. Little
public opinion will be intelligently formed by
the latest development, except possibly the
opinion that there is a scrap coming up and
some palmer language may be used when the
stfap materializes
Public opinion with regard to the Rapid
Transit franchise has been formed mostly on
thedollowing facts: So s. . -.1l
In the legislative session of 1913 d franchise
extension bib was introduced, which was adj
mittedly the Rapid Transit company e own bill.
Governor Frear took very violent objection
to the bill. He denounced it In outspoken terms
and gave his stand. the widest publicity.
AS q result Of the fight on the Rapid Transit s
bin started by. the governor, substitute bills
we're introduced public hearings were held, the
press carried long, detailed and statistical
Statements from all sides, and the widest pub
Lefty possible was given the entire subject
The Merchants Association as an independ-a
ent and representative body, took up the sub.
ieet through special committee, employed an
attorney Of ability and standing, and wadedi
into the fray, which by that time had got pretty
warm.
from this public discussion debate and Skin
nishing, there was evolved bill that passed
the senate and the house, and was submitted
Is Congress for the requisite ratification.
This bill was not the Rapid Transit s bill
ia any sense. 1t is a matter Of definite knowl-
edge that certain influential officials OF the
+ Rapid Transit Company have not been in favor
of this franchise but have accepted it under
fhe circumstances. On the third reading of the
franchise bill In the senate, Senator Cecil
Brown. many of whose interests are allied with
those of the Rapid Transit Company, voted
AGAINST the measure. 1t was generally regard
"a as ssGoYernor Frear's bill = and the feeling
Of the community undoubtedly was that the
governor had won distinct victory In his fight
|epainst the company IS proposed franchise. The
Merchants, Association also received much
credit for its able and progressive part in Sc
curing action.
ri short the bill that passed the legislature
~ 1913 had general approval among those who
I'D l5iyen the public discussion any serious at
,s1f;on. And so far as could be Observed
11onolulu as a whole felt that the bill should
pass Congress
what crvstallized this feeling was the earnest
,,ss;re here for some improy ements to be made
s tbe company's tracks and service and the
i e that unless the franchise were extended
- co,n,,anv would not hold itself justified mi
undertaking costly permanent improvements |
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