Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-03

VSnS rApEit 10. .:.<=
vice corporations doing business in
that state. d. -. H. =. .-~a r. .Le. Es
cit does not necessarily follow that
a survey of the whole field covered by.
such valuations must be undertaken
as a preliminary to the exercise of the
duties of the commission. In the state
of Wisconsin, for instance, from 1907
to the present date, by far the greater
number of plants which have bean
valued were valued in connection
with proceedings in which they
were involved. However, sys-
tematic valuation of all prop
erty used and useful for the con-
venience Of our public should be one
of the principal aims of the commits
sion. Where the companies affected
have made careful inventory of their
property, the commission may take
this and check 1t up, and, in fact test
it in thu field and in the office item by
item. From my experience in similar
matters on the mainland. have found
this the general rule of procedure, and
it has worked satisfactorily.
"An analysis of the statement re-
Gently published by the former chair
man of the commission, showing the
corporations under the jurisdiction OF
the ferritoriai public utilities conn
mission, shows that the aggregate cap
ital stock of these companies, on De-
cember 81. 1913. amounted to S15,373,.
$50. OF this amount, two railroad COM
panies were represented by capital
ization of $1,000, 900 and 50, 597 800 re-
spectively; and two transporta: ion
companies of so ,250, 900 and $1,2o7. 800
respectively. There were II other pub
lie utility corporations with an aver
age capitalization of, approximately,
only 100000 II, ~.
1T has been claimed that tina ter
'ritorial public utilities commission
should act solely in judicial capacity.
Locking to the fact that the duties OF
the commission, as compared with the
duties Of similar commissions in the
states, will be confined to so limited
number of public utility corpora
tons, and, with few exceptions, with
such comparatively small unit vol
ume of business transacted, am of
the opinion that the. executive head of
the commission should not only be
thoroughly conversant with modern
business methods, but should be tech
nically equipped for the position. The
responsibility for the efficient carry
| ing out of the law will rest with this
official, and his training and exper-
fence shoul Id be such that he can, at
all times, take the initiative in the sue
cessful operation of its provisions.
"The matters to be considered by
the commission will not be Of so COM
pick nature as to necessitate the re-
tanning of outside experts. except in
isolated cases, and the limited amount
! of fees accruing to the commission
will not permit the frequent payment
Of such retainers. With a chairman
competent to personally conduct the
office and supervise the detailed work
of the commission, the maximum Of FL
I ficiency will be insured with a min
imum of outlay.
Under date of November ), 1912, I
prepared. for the consideration OF
Governor Frear. the draft of a public
utilities act, which I considered would
meet the requirements Of the territory.
| This act embodied, among other fea-
lures. provisions from the New York
and Wisconsin laws Of 1907; the New
Jersey, California and Kansas laws OF
1911; and the Rhode Island law OF
1912. Although :he public utilities ac5
now in force in the territory is com
promise on the suggested legislation
made at the time of the enactment Of
The law, it's essential features, never
theless, were somewhat similar to all
public utility legislation. namely: In
vestigation, publicity and reccmmen-
dation.
Il take the view, based on practical
experience, that the information col
lected by the commission and the ser
vices performed by it. should tend tn
make the office of the commission "A
clearing house between The public and
private plants, and the information so
collected and compiled should be plac-
ed at the disposition of all citizens in
the most convenient form. the use Of
graphic charts being a prominent fea-
ture of such publicity.
1.-The proceedings before the COM
mission, furthermore, should be so con-
duc,ed as to clarity and educate pub
lie opinion.
RESPECTFULLY yours, r..
~. ...,- III. COOLING FIELD,
2 49, 49, ST 4 4 ~ a