The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-04-03
.gD0DING- FIELD TELLS
]" ! PLANS 70 PlNkHAM
(oOntlnued frOm Paae one.l

|~T@'-r~
q Continued from Page One.)
Unless the value Of the property be
known, there is, no way Of determining
how much interest and Depreciation
must be earned III order TO make the
plant self-supportihg. The recognition
Of this necessity Of the physical valuh.
tion Of property Of public utilities re.
suited in the provision in the Wiseoh-
sin law Of 1907 for the structural valu
alton Of the plants of all public SERVED
corporations doing business in that
at does not necessarily follow that
q survey Of the whole field covered by
such valuations must be undertaken is
q preliminary to the exercise OF the
duties Of the commission. In the State
Of Wisconsin,, for instance, from 1851
TO the present date, by far the greater
number Of plants which have been
valued in Connection with proceedings
IN which they were involved. However,
p systematic valuation Of ali property
used aud nsefuI for the convenience Of
our public should he one OF the prin.
cipal aims Of the Commission. Where
the companies affected have made n
careful Inventory Of their property, the
Commission may take this aud cheek
II up, and, in fact, test il in the ield
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 il haa
worked satisfactorily.
Much Capital Represented.
An analysis Of the Statement re-.
Gently published by the former chairman
Of the commission, showing the, eorpo--
atoms under the Jurisdiction Of the
Territorial Public Utilities Commission,
shows that the aggregate capital stock
Of these companies, on December 81 !,
1918, amounted to $l5,373,230. OF this
amount, two railroad companies were
represented by d capitalization Of
$4,000, 100000 and ~, 5J7 800. respec-
lively; and two transportation com.
panies Of $2,250,0O0. and 81 ,2g7 500 re-
spectively. There were seventeen
other public utility corporations with
an average capitalization Of, approx
AAtNNAlN OtAl HAOVtVQus
1T has been claimed that the Ter
rltorial Public Utilities Commission
should act solely in a Judicial eapacity.
Looking to the fact that the duties Of
the commission, as compared with the
duties of similar commissions in the
states, will be eonhned to SO limited IA
number of public utility corporations,
and, with few exceptions, with such a
comparatively small unit volume Of
business transacted, ] am of the opinion
that The executive head Of the commits
sion should not only be thoroughly con
versant with modern business methods,
but should be technically equipped for
the position. The responsibility fos
the efficient carrying out Of the law will
rest with this official, and his training
an experience should be such that be
can, at al times, take the initiative In
the successful operation Of its pro
visions. y,
1.-THE matters to be considered by
the e0mmission will not be of SO com
pick d nature as to heeessitate the re-.
tanning of outside experts, except IN
isolated cases, and the limited amount
OF fees aceruing to the commission will
not permit the frequent payment Of
such retainers. With a chairman com.
petent 10 personally conduct the Office
and supervise the detailed work OF the
commission, the maximum OF efficiency
will be insured with a minimum Of
outlay.
Drafted Bill fer Governor Frear.
rUnder date of November s, ,1gl2,
/ prepared, for the consideration of
Governor Frear, the draft of a public
utilities act, which considered wonli
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 the Public Utilities
Act now I'M force in the Territory Is
a comprornise on the suggested leg slh-
tion made at the time OF the enactment
of the law, its essential features, never.
theless, were somewhat similar to all
public utility legislation, namely: III.
yestigation, Publicity and Recommend.
alton, ..,.|
AZ take the view, based ON practical
experience, that the information col
leeted by the commission and the sery
ices performed by it, should tend to
make the Office of the commission a
clearing house between the public and
the priynte plants, aud the Information
SO collected and complied should be
placed at the disposition Of an citizens
in the most Convenient form, the use
Of graphic charts being a prominent
feature Of such publicity.
The proceedings before the commits
sion, furthermore, should be SO conduct
ed as to clarity and educate public
opinion.
" Respectfully yours,
1T, IN, GooDING FIELD,
r. . m