The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1916-05-19
Utilities Board
TODemand Changes
Electric And Telephone Companies Get
PrObed- Better Service Will Be Re-
quired- Findings To Be Announced

A number of radical changes in the
management of the affairs of the two
Maui electric companies is presaged |
by the investigations of the Public |
Utilities Commission this week. The |
commissioners also went into the af-
fairs of the Maui Telephone Company |
and some minor changes are likely to
be required of it also.
The investigations were made by
two members of the board, Chairman
Charles r. Forbes and A. J. GignouX,
J. N. S. Williams, the other member,
not being able to present. II. p. o.
Sullivan, secretary of the board,
James l.. Coke, attorney, and steno-
grapher were also of the party. X.
G. Walker, an expert accountant, who
had been going over the books of the
companies for a week or two previ-
ously, had the necessary records be-
fore the board for consideration at
Mondays meeting.
There were not many complaints
made against the three companies, but
the commission went pretty thorough
ly into the methods of each concern,
and summoned a number of witnesses
to give expert testimony on various
matters. The board found much to
object to in connection with the book
keeping methods of the Lahaina Elect
ric Company, though little fault was
found with the physical condition of
the plant, or with it's service or rates
Being an incorporated concern, how
ever even though it is a subsidiary of
the Pioneer Mill Company, makes it
imperative that the books be kept in
dependently of the larger concern.
Island Electric Must Improve
The board will probably give the
Island Electric Company reasonable
opportunity to increase the quality of
it's Wailuku service, and to build up
the efficiency of it's plant, and then
it will probably go into the matter
of better rates for consumers. Ac-
cording to the boards findings, the
whole plant and equipment of the
company at the present time is eX-
pensive and inefficient. AS one mem
Der stated, the company has not been
making money at the rates charged
at present, but could never hope to
under present conditions. The board
found that steps have been taken to
better conditions, however, a large in
ternal combustion engine being at the
present time in process of erection,
which should reduce the cost of pro
duction very materially. Also, after
nearly a year without an expert elect
rician, the company has just secured
the services of such man as super
intendent. The commissioners are
apparently of the opinion that the
Island Electric Company should, under
proper management, furnish a tho
roughly satisfactory service at a mo-
derate rate, and at the same time pay
a reasonable profit. The company was
represented at the investigation by
Attorney c. H. Olson, of Honolulu.
Telephone Company Improving
The commission was apparently
quite favorably impressed with the
work being done by the Maui Tele
phone Company, in way of improving
its service. A part of Tuesday was
spent in going over the system and
inspecting the work now being done
The board will consider a number OF
complaints regarding charter of sers
ice, and rule on them later. None OF
the complaints were of very serious
CHARACTER, Dul lne DOdru announced
that full weight will be given to all.
Make Haleakala Trip
The members of the board accom-
panied Chairman Forbes to Olinda, or
Tuesday afternoon, where the later
as superintendent of public work:
wished to look into Kula pipeline mat
ters, and later continued to the sum
init of the mountain, returning OF
Wednesday morning. On Wednesday
afternoon an inspection of the plant o
= the Lahaina Electric Company wa!
, made, and the party left at o'clocl
for Hilo to go further into the matte
of the Hilo Electric Company. Before
leaving Maui it was announced tha
transcripts of the testimony in Mau
matters will be prepared as soon a
possible, and that rulings will follow
as soon thereafter as possible. TIL,
board also stated that the matter o
the conditions and hours of labor o
the Maui Telephone Company's EN-
ployes will be taken up and passe
upon as soon as the board returns /
Honolulu.