Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-05
ARGUE
EMINENT DOMAIN
AND FRANCHISES
Oahu SoIons Hear Discussion
( OF Three important Public
" Utilities Measures

a
Three senate measures, proposing
eminent domain power for public sery.
ice corporations and extension Of the
franchises OF the gas and electric com.
panies Of Honolulu to cover the island
of Oahu were discussed at some length
| in public meeting of the senatefs
Oahu committee at the chamber OF
the upper house yesterday evening. ,,
| Amendments were proposed for all
three bills, but as result of the hear
! ing it is apparent that all will be re-
ported favorably by the committee.
Senate bill No. II, proposing the grant.
ing OF the right of eminent domain,
originally proposed the power for cleo:
trio companies only. This will come
out Of committee amended SO as &c
make the privilege more general for
the benefit of public corporations OF
all classes but stipulating that they
shall be concerns holding franchises
within the meaning Of the public util-
ity law, so that they shall be under
the control of the public utility com.
mission. ;, 49, --.. ... ~
Franchise Bills Amended.
The two franchise extension bills
will be SO amended that they will be
in effect only If Congress approves
them before a certain fixed date two
years hence. In case Congress has not
given them consideration and alp
proved them by that time the fegis.
latufe of 1917 will thus be able to
take up the subject again and enact
new statutes, which can be put before
the national lawmaking body at once.
C. r. Hef1ehway, representing the
Legislative committee Of the Chamber
Of Commerce, Informed the senatorial
committee that the business mems or.
ganfzation approved the eminent do.
main and electric franchise proposals,
and said that while the gas company
franchise measure had not yet re.
ceiyed consideration he was convinced
the chamber would approve it like.
wise. y ,>sa5 -: ~ - .r1z
chairman A. L. Castle OF the Oahu
committee suggested the amendment
making the power Of eminent domain
general among public service coiipa.
ries. but limiting It to such concerns.
He said the right TO condemn private
property for rights of-way should not
be granted companies whose business
rs rather restricted to private pur-
poses, as for instance certain pianta!
tons which erect electric power lines
for the conduct of their own business.
Senator Metzger wanted to know
why this measure, like the franchise
bills, should not go to. Congress for
its approval. Attorney HemenWay ex.i
planned that Congress- under Hawaii's
organic act doesanot demand such SUI
pervision in the matter Of legislation
which is not In the nature OF q special
franchise Extension of franchise
amounts to a special franchise, he
said, but the right of eminent do
main is not in that category. D. l..
Wilmington added that when right
of this kind is given to all corpora.
tons II is hardly d special franchise.
eds Biii In Same Glass.
There was little discussion on the
gas biII, the sentiment being that It
follows the same line as the electric
franchise extension measure and that
If the one Is to be approved the other
deserves similar action. The two prob
ably wiz therefore become twins, NOV:
ing along legislative channels side by
side.
Senator Metzger wanted to know II
any other cohcern in Honolulu ID seek.
ing an electric franchise. He recall.
ed, he said, that application for an.
other was made In the final days Of
the 1913 session and that the principal
argument against il then was that
there was hardy room for q second
Concern on Oahn. Writ inquired why
the franchise Of the Hawaiian Electric.
had been limited by Congress when
the original vas granted. restricting
the coinpany,s operation TO the city
OF Honolulu Attorney r. w. Breck
ons, representing the coihbany, ex-
.plained that d that time the Oahd
Railway & Land Company opposed the
extension to cover the entire island.
The franchise permits the company To-
sell power as veil as light That OPP
position does mot exist today, said
Breckons.
Senator Coke arose to praise the re-.
cent conduct OF the Hawaiian Electric
Company If the conditions were sim
liar today to those in existence two
years ago, he declared, he might OPP
pose the extension; but the company
has shown since the change Id con-
troll and MANAGEMENT q spirit of fair
ness that commended 1t to the public.
~. - -
fhe Canadian national debt In
creased siS.634yS52 during January,