The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-08-04
FORBES DEFEATED
+. IN HIS FIGHT ON
FRANCHISE BILL
Senate Committee Refuses to
Amend Measure As Asked
by Pinkham
OTHER HAWAIIAN MATTERS
REMAIN WITHOUT CHANGE
Both Parties Now Fishing For
Votes Of the American
Farmer
By ERNEST O, WALKER

WASHINGTON, July 20-Superin-
tcRdent Forbes has been In Washington
and has had n hearing before the senate
committee on Pacific Islands and Porto
Rico with reference to the Hlo Gas
Franchise Bill This was an extended
meeting at which differences over the
measure were threshed out quite com
pletely. George Mex. Mcclellan was
present and participated. The Hilo
bill, it will be remembered, was passed
by the house some weeks ago and then
held up in the senate committee on
the cablcd request of Governor Pink.
ham.
At the hearing Superintendent Forbes
appeared as Governor Pinkham s repre-
sentative and urged that the Hilo bill
be amended so as TO give the public
utilities commission power over the
franchise, similar TO the power exer-
ciscd over utilities at Honolulu and the
island Of Oahu. At the close Of the
hearing Of the committee meeting, Scna-
tor hhfrnth, it's chairman, announced
that the bin would be reported as it
passed the house. No amendments what
ever were favored.
Magoon Was In Washington
Honolulu, has been in town the past
week. He came, it is understood to op-
pose a new franchise for the Honolulu
Rapid Transit company but learned
I fter his arrival here that no bill had
been presented to either branch of
congress and consequently there was
nothing for him to oppose.
Other Hawaiian matters pending here
are in status quo. The house is ad
jOurning for three days at a time and
transacting very little business, while
the senate is catching up with the big
appropriation bills and other legislation
Of first Importance. The army appro-
priation bill, carrying the survey for
military road on the Island of Oahu, has
not yet passed the senate but probably
will be taken up in few days.
With great political season coming
on, politicians Of both parties, as of
yOre, have their eyes upon the farmer.
They seek TO do things of advantage to
the honest tiller of the soil, " remem-
herring that it is not a long time till
his votes for public officials will be in
demand. But a great and important
enactment for the farmer is just going
into operation, here the accusation of
politics in presidential year does not
lie.
Farm Loans As Bait
This is the farm loan act, which
President Wilson has Just signed. It
provides a system for lOaning money on
farm lands Mt reasonable rates of in
tcrest for relatively long periods and
preSeFibes an authorization plan for
n9Ny L.
interest iu the law is six per cent.
This, in urban circles, sounds here like
tOlerRbly high rate, for five per cent
and five and one half per cent money
is quite prevalent in large volume Of
commercial transaction. But out in
rural communities, excessive rates, in
many instances uSuriOus rates, are com.
mon for money and the farmer, for
peculiar reasons, has always had to pay
dearly for bOrrOWe money.
Many states in recent wears have in!
nugurated land banks, but the new law
provides for nation wide system un-
der the treasury department. The act
is, intended to supplement the federal
reserve act, inaugurated couple of
years ago and already regarded as a
marvellous statute in its relations to
finance and industry.
WIN Be Operated Apart
But it will be operated apart from
the federal reserve system. There are
~ federal Reserve Banks and as many
federal reserve districts comprising the
national area and there will be twelve
rural credit central banks for the
twelve rural credits. But the reserve
hanks are IN the big business cities,
IKE Boston New York, Richmond and
lan Francisco, while the rural credit
banks VAL De IN smaller cities, more in
ihe heart q the farming communities,
me purpose Is 10 attract money to
rue Iar" roam hel"' ana q method has
Zen WORKED OUT whereby those who
! P"V" nancy I" Irnd can md safe IN
Nestment In the FORM OF deoentures or