The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-06-16
Public Utilities Commission In
formed Of Decision BY Com
mittce At Meeting
V0 MOVE WILL BE TAKEN
BEFORE GOVERNORS ACTION
Chairman Forbes Hopes To Get
Measure Before Congress At
This Session

WlIl not undertake consideration Of thu
RAPID Transit franchise extension nm.
NJ the proposal has been handed back
70 the public utility commission by the
Governor and definite draft Of the
OIL which is 20 be submitted TO con.
yress has been prepared.
The public utility committee of tho
chamber, at meeting with the com.
MISSION, virtually informed the latter
to this effect yesterday. Charles r.
Forbes, chairman Of the commission
said that the draft now before the
Governor, and of which the chamber,s
standing committee has q copy. will be
amended in one or perhaps several par
ticulars. =. s, pnxson, chairman Of the
'hamber's committee, said he did mot
think the chamber would care IN 70.
view the charter draft until il il prac.
tically in the form Of a bill. az the
cOmmissirn proposes to submit IL 10
congress.
Commission Wants Action
Mr.. Forbes sand the commission a do.
sire is to get the measure up 10 con.
Sress at the present session of the mn.
uonai making body. The session
gov IN progress will end August IS. IL
was agreed therefore, that some rapid
work on the franchise extension matter
VIII De necessary. After the joint ses-
Hon Yesterday Mr. Forbes expressed the
,Iplnlon that II probably will be wise
Tor the commission to take no further
4ctlon on the subject until the supreme
5ourt has gwen its decision on the
Irrigation pending between the Cover
nor and the Rapid Transit company.
Tins decision, it is estimated, may be
anticipated in about two or three
weeks time. 49,
Members Of the chamber 8 committee
loubt whether congress will attempt TO
tct on the Honolulu franchise extern.
5'"h ut this session, even IL the Cham.
Der, the utility commission, the Gov
rhor and the company and the city
each an agreement upon its terms.
This, for the reason that the legisla.
'ure, legally recognized as the voice Of
the people, will not have had oppor-
tunlty to pass upon it.
forbes Is Confident
Chairman Forbes said he does not
shink this technicality will serve as n
deterrent if all sides of the discussion,
ave that one represented by Attorney
J.. A. Magoon, can agree upon il. He
thought the opinion of the chamber Of
commerce, the commission and the city
supervisors would be accepted as the
voice of the people of Oahu, the citi.
lens of this island being the only ones
directly concerned. FTE
Puxson called attention to the fact
that the present draft of the suggest.
ID new charter does not touch upon the
question of rates. Chairman Forbes
aid it would be amended in that re-.
Spect, either by the Governor or the
commission. He thought the chamber
nIght go ahead with its study Of the
present draft, taking the matter of
ates or other amendments when thew
IRE made later. He intimated that
such changes to the draft will be in the
nature of additions to the measure.
uther than alterations of its present
wording,
There was considerable discussion
'ver the company's request for a cap.
tallzation increase of $l,7OO0O0 and
he Increase of 100000 less than that
authorized under the suggested draft
ls it stands today.
). A. Balch, member of the cham
Der s committee, said he understood the
Ntra 100000 wanted by the Rapid
Transit Company is for extensions that
ave been made already in its lines.
hartman Forbes challenged this state.
n"nt, asking where the extensions are.
Il. {. Brown secretary of the chamber
Of commerce, replied that he personally
iId not so understand it, He thought
the $loo0OO is for extensions proposed,
but not made. ''' va
Disc ussion Most Friendly
"lf that is the case 1 agree with
you that the company is entitled 10
the extra amount" said Forbes. az
believe however, that IL we can all
agree on the other phases Of the char.
ter the company win not balk at this
one item. Especially so, If it is pos.
able to get congressional action at
once - - -
The discussion was thoroughly friend.
~, all agreeing that il would be TO the
public s best Interest to get the char.
ier extension at the earliest possible
time. One view Of it was expressed by
Brown when he said:
81 believe the Rapid Transit Com.
Pany could make a good thing inan.
Tally out of it's system in the next
fourteen years, If the franchise were to
lapse at the end of that time, by max,
ing no further improveme Mt and simply
running the line without repair, and for
what it could make out of il in that
period. But it certainly would not DO
pTOlta BILE for the public -