The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-04-03
(From Thursday Advertiser. }


(From Thursday Adyertiser.)
Asked by Governor Pinkham to give
his views MS to the intent Of the Public
Utilities Act, the best means of carry
ing out its provisions and the spirit in
which this should be undertaken, Judg4
Arthur A. Wilder, who is an acknowl
edged candidate for the Office Of chair.
man of the public utilities commission
to succeed +. A. Mott smith whose res.
ignation from that position took effect
March "a, has written the Chief Execu
tive a lengthy letter In which he states
his opinion in the premises.
The letter Is dated April / and reads
as follows:
Sir:-Your favor of March 81, sug.
costing that | read over the utIlities
act and inform you as to my conception
of the intent OF the same and the bes,
means Of carrying out my Interpretation
of il and also the spirit in which it
would be undertaken, is acknowledged
welcome this opportunity.
Read the Law Often.
1t is almost unnecessary 10 inform
you that prior to receiving your letter
1 had read the utilities aet both before
and after its passage, many, many
times. This act is one, as set out il,
its title, to create public utilities com
mission and 90 define its powers and
duties
The Democratic platform of 1912 pro
vided as tollows: ,
&' 1--WE favor commission which
shall supervise and regulate tho
service OF public utilities. .u
The Republican platform for the same
year provided as follows;
In the enforcement and admin
istration Of territorial laws govern,
ing corporations of public utility,
there is much that should be com.
united to commission on corpor-
:, ations of public utility, thus plac.
ing in the hands of an administra-
tive board many of the functions
now necessarily exercised by the
superintendent Of public works and
other reriiciajs, anu broadening the
eontroko of the Territory itself over
suchseorporations. Power should be
invested in this commission to
equitatly regulate passenger and
freight rates; as well as charges for
the consumption of electricity and
gas and the transmission OF mos
sages, with proper regard to the in,
terests Of both the people and the
corporations.
s. Knows the Ear-marks.
None of the utility bills introduced
by senator Metzger, Senator Rice and
Representative troodness, presumably
on behalf of the respective political
party to which each one belonged, got
through. The bill which did get passed,
Act 50, bears all the earmarks Of hay.
ing been drafted in the executive cham.
Der. This bill was introduced by Rep.
resentatiye Sheldon, the chairman OF
the Judiciary committee in the house.
as a substitute for the one introduced
by Representative Goodness, and as
amended was finally passed by the leg,
islature and signed by the Governor.
Section i provides for the appoint.
ment OF three commissioners with their
salaries, tenure and qualifications
Section 2 gives the commission pow.
er to employ such attorneys, clerks,
stenographers, agents, engineers, ae,
countants and other assistants as may
be necessary, to define their powers
and duties and TO fix their compensa.
tion. - On request, the attorney gen.
eral may also be consulted.
Section provides for an annual re-
port. a.t...,n. H.. a.. = ..'.
Section 4 defines the general powers
and duties of the commission.
Section sets out what the commits.
sion may investigate.
Section 9 requires public utilities to
furnish information on request.
Section Z requires public utilities to
report accidents to the commission.
Section s gives the commission pow.
or to compel attendance Of witnesses,
etc. ..n'
Section 9 requires the publication Of
rates, fares, elassifcations, cSarges
and rules of every public utility. i
Section 10 is in regard to notice of
hearings,
Section II allows any one concerned
to have counsel. q:
Section ~ allows the commission to
make rules respecting the procedure
Section 10 is in regard to recon-
mendations and suits by the commits
sion. sa ia, t.r W.
Section'l4 is in regard to regulating
rates, etc, and allows appeals to the
supreme court from orders made by
the commission. b. .-
Section IS provides monetary PEN
atty for failing TO comply with the law,
Section 10 is in regard to perjury.
Section II refers to the financing
of the expenses of the commission.
Section IS defines the term public
utility N%t'''.
Section 10 provides that the invalid.
ity of any portion of the act shall not
destroy the balance. r -"
Section 20 makes the act inapplica.'
BILE under certain circumstances.
Section q provides that the act
shall take effect on July /, 1918, /
2, This act was signed by the then
Governor on April 10, 1913. 49,.
On April 20, 1913, the Governor sent