The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-05-12
. CHARTER Of RAPID
TRANSIT IS PASSED
|. UP TOMR. P|NKHAM
Utilities Commission, After Sew
eral Sessions On Franchise
Amendments, Ends Work
GOVERNOR IS SADDLEDy
- WITH FINAL DISPOSAL
No Recommendation ACcompa-
MES Action Of Service Board
and Supervisors Marvel

The public utilities commission has
put the matter of the anne ndmcnts of
the Rapid Transit charter up to the
Governor without recommendations.
This was done at an executive session
of the commission last night. The char
ter, as published in this paper on Mon
day morning, with a few slight amend
mGnts made at the session yesterday
morning and afternoon, was passed on
to Mr.. Pinkham.
Yesterday the utilities commissioners
held two open and two executive, ses-
sions on the charter. The morning SEES
sion was taken up with a discussion of
the powers of the utilities commission
relative to extensions and the amount
of dividends to Be paid by the com
pany.
Nearly Passage-At-Arms
There was almost passage-at
arm between the deputy city attorney
and the attorney for the Rapid Transit
on the matter of dividends and il was
declared by the representative of the
railway that If the company was limit
ed to eight per cent, there was no use
in going any farther with the work of
the draft, as his company would not
stand for the limit.
In the matter of the percentage to
be paid to the city on the gross earn
ings of the railway someone proposed
that the two and a half per cent be
divided into two equal payments of
one and quarter per cent on the earn
ings of each six months and payments
be made in January and July.
City Fully safeguarded
A discussion on the wording of this
section developed the fact that the
city would be getting but one and
quarter instead of two and a half per
cent of the earnings If it was paid
in this way and so a change was made
to give the city the original percent.
age. On the first of January of next
year the city is to get its percentage of
the gross earnings for the year 1916,
and thereafter its share in July and
January.
The matter of the payment of the car
licenses 20 the city instead of the Ter.
ritory was discussed and il was de-
eided that the legislature could trans
fer this, as il has other license money
to the municipality.
N0u1u OOhe 10 CaplLa
After the session in the afternoon
the proposition to send Attorney James
l., Coke to Washington in the interests
of the charter, on behalf Of the city
was preached and it was decided that
the thing must be rushed so that Coke
might get the steamer today. 1t was
stated that unless this action was taken
il would be too late to get the bill
introduced in congress before the mem
bers left for the two national cOnven.
tions, and that there would be little
chance for action after the eOnven-
tons; in fact, little chance at this pres
ent, session.
The idea was that the city should
appropriate $1,000 for the expenses of
Coke and this, was said, had the ap-
prevail of the members of the commit.
tee of supervisors, consisting of +. NJ.
Hatch, Charles n. Arnold and b. +
Hollinger, appointed by the mayor to
act for the board in the matter of the
draft of the new charter.
Futile To Send Attorney
Chairman Forbes expressed surprise
at the plan and said he saw no need
for undue haste. He thought on ae-
count of COke's familiarity with the
work that had been done his advice
and aid would be of great assistance
TO the Governor in his consideration
of the bill when it went TO him
81 think it would be futile to send |
Coke to Washington now" said Forbes
"as the charter is still nothing IL has |
not been approved by the Governor,
the utilities commission and the Rapid |
Transit folk have not yet accepted 1t. |
II might be well to have Coke on the |
ground and in ease everything goes all
right here he could be notified to pro |
eeed with the work by cable"
Chamber Of Commerce Considers
An attempt was made by the terri. |
torial affairs committee of the chamber !
Of commerce yesterday to have a meet |
ing on the proposed charter as drafted !
but no draft of it, up to the minute. |
could be obtained for reference. III
was the opinion of some of the mem
beers that George Mex. Mcclellan, who |
has done good work in congress for |
the Territory, might well handle thc
legislation of the proposed charter If |
the city wanted some one to represent |
a. He will be in Washington until |
June and his employment would be in |
the nature of great saving to the
city il he is willing to act, it was con
tended.
The supervisors special committee
reported the franchise to the municipal
board last night, in the form in which
il was finally agreed upon at the joint
meeting with the public utility commits
sion yesterday morning.
Hatch Commends Charter
Hatch, as committee chairman. asked,
however. that no action be taken, rec
that copies be made and
giVen each super, isor for perusaI. He
said the committee desires to consult
Delegate KalRniaRaole before making
. Recommendation. In its present shape
be- commented it, saying every change
suggested by the city attorneys de.