Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-06

DEADLOCKEDON
RATEfORPOWER
Traction and Electric Company
Representatives Confer But
Cannot Agree

Deadlock" briefly replied c. G..
Balientyne, representative of the Hilo
Traction Company, when asked this
afternoon what had been the result of
the conference between himself and
Frank E. Thompson, attorney for the
Hilo Electric Company, over the pro-
posed amendments to the traction
company's franchise. The electric
company is opposing some of the
amendments before the Public Utili-
ties Commission, which has been
asked by the governor TO send him its
recommendations. .
I'VE could not agree over the price
for power" stated Mr.. Ballentyne.
The traction company is willing 10
pay what il regards as an excessive
price-one and quarter cents. 1t
refuses absolutely to pay more, and
Mr.. Thompson would not offer US a
rate of less than one and half cents.
There. was no use in discussing the
other matters in dispute when We
could not agree on this one, so We
called il quits. | suppose it will have
to be all threshed out before the next
meeting of the. utilities commission"
The conference was held in
Thompson's office at $50 this morn
ing, according to arrangements made
at the meeting OF the commission last
night. 80. ~
Objections Filed Last Night.
Last nights meeting resulted in an
adjournment after the presentation OF
10 pages of objections to the amend
ments by F. E. Thompson, attorney
for the Hilo Electric Company. r.
w. Single and C.. G.. Ballentyne, rep
resenting the stockholders OF the trac-
ton company, were present and at
to answer them. Analysed,
the 13 pages simmered down to a
question of the price of power to be
furnished by the electric company to
the traction company. A cent and a
half is wanted and but a cent and a
quarter offered. ~.
The list of traction company stock
holders, which has never been made
public before, was revealed last night. |
E. G. Ballentyne, manager of the Ho-
nolulu Rapid Transit and Land Com
pany; R. w. Single, J. T. Moir, H. v.
Patten, Carl Carlsmith and a "Mr.
Johnson" were named. ~
Some of Attorney Thompson's OBJ
jections to the amendments, briefly |
stated, are:
1.-The primary object of the proposed |
is to force the Hilo Elec-
trio Company to either. take over the
franchise so long and so. unsuccess-
fully hawked about tina territory, or |
TO supply power 10 the traction COM
pany at such a price as 1t shall die
tate, In order to keep it out of the |
field
The proposed amendment gives |
The traction company all the rights |
and privileges of the electric, company
without any obligation on its part to |
10 anything SO far as supplying light
IS concerned"
Objection was also made to the
rom taxation while it was building up |
Its business in competition with a |
going concern which is paying taxes |
and to the introduction of the fran
ehise amendments in Congress with
put first having the territorial legis.
allure thresh them over.
Referred to Governor.
The amendments were referred to
he governor by the traction company
and by him to the secretary of the
.erritory, w. w. Thayer. Mr.. Thayer
put his views in writing and the gov
srnor has turned the amendments and
opinion over to the utilities commits
sion, which will have supervision over
he traction company, with request
Tor recommendations When the com.
mission has passed on them they will
90 to the attorney-general
Then the governor will determine
heir fate-whether they go to Con-
yress, to the legislature or back to
he traction company for changes.
Objections to action by the utilities
until they can be heard
IN the question has been made by the
Hilo Board of Trade and the board
VI supervisors of Hawaii. Final de-
:ision as to recommendations will not
De reached, according to Charles R.
Forbes, chairman until his return
rom Kauai next week. i. IN -