Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-01
JUDGE WILDER
FORMALLY ASKS
FOR BIG JOB
(Coutmued Eom page one)

and tho transmission of messages,
with proper regard To the inter
ests of both the people ana The
corporations.
None of the utility bills introduced
by Senator Metzger Senator Rec and
Representative Goodness. presumably
on behalf OF the respective political
party to which each one belonged, bet
through. The oil which did get pass
ed. Act SO. bears all the caTmarks OF
having been drafted in the executive
chamber This bill was introduced by
Representative Sheldon, the chairman
Of the judiciary committee in the
house, as a substitute for the one In
troduced by Representative Goodness,
and as amended was final passed. by
s the legislature and sisqTHt by the gov
Section l provides for the IAp9int-
ment of three commissioned With
their salaries, tenure and qual1hca-
tions.
! Section 2 gives the commission ppw-
er to employ such attorneys, cie1ks,
stenogTaphers, agents, engineers. pc
eountants and other assistants as may
be necessary. to define their powars
and duties and to fix their compenSa-
ton" On request, the attorney gep-
eral may also be consulted.
| Section 3 provides for an annual r3
port.
Section defines the general powers
and duties of the commission.
Section 3 sets out what the commits
sion may investigate.
/ Section 6 requires public utilities to
| furnish information on request
Section requires public utilities to
report accidents to the commission.
i Section 8 gives the commission pow
er to compel attendance of witnesses,
etc. -
Z Section 9 requires the publication CT
rates, fares, classifications, charges
and rules of every public utility.
Section 10 is in regard to notice Ct
bearings.
Section II allows any one concerned
to have counsel.
"a Section II allows the commission to
make rules respecting the procedure
before it.
! Section N12 is in regard to recon-
mendations and suits by the commits
sion.
Section IA is in regard to regulating
rates, etc, and allows appeals to the
supreme court from orders made by
The commission.
+ Section il provides a monetary pen
atty for failing to comply with the law.
/ Section 16 is in regard to perjury
/ Section II refers to the financing
of the. expenses of -the commission.
1 Section Is defines the term public
utility" ...
i Section ~ provides that the invali-
dity of any portion of the act shall not
destroy the balance.
! Section 20 makes the act inapplica-
!, BILE under certain circumstances.
/ Section 81 provides that the act
shall take effect on July 1, 1913.
i This act was signed by the then
governor on Aprf; 10, 1913 ..:
/ On April 20, 1918, the governor sent
! to the senate the names of the follow
/ ing persons as members of the utlll-
ties commission: Z. A. Mott-Smith,
member and chairman; J. n. S. VIII
liams, member; A. ]. GignouX, mem
Der. These gentlemen were confirm
ed the same day.
! II thus appears that more than two
months before July l, 1918, Repub-
lican governor nominated and, by and
with the advice of a Republican SEN
ate. appointed members of commits
sion which was not then in existence
legally and which could not at that
time come into, existence before July
/, 1913. The only Inference that can
be drawn is that the then Republican
governor and the then Republican ma
jority in the senate were looking
after" 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 it 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 a new gov
ernor after July l, 1913, might ap-
point commissioners not satisfactory
to, the elect" which appointments
would hold good under the Iaw until
the end of the next session of the SEN
ate, namely, until about the end Of
April, 1915.
In my humble opinion, it is 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 a law
yer of high professional standing
should be secured at once. because.
the sooner this question Is settled the
better for all concerned.
The fine Italian hand of the public
utility concerns in this territory in
endeavQring to postpone all action
with regard to pubic utilities, not
outstanding the pIanks heretofore
>1ok