The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-07-28
congress LIBERAL
with LEGISLATION
AFFECTING HAWAII
More Measures Passed For Ter
ritory Than BY Any Similar
n Body Since Annexation
BY ERNEST q. WALKER
mail Special to The Advertiser)


WASHINGTON, July u. With
,sonate acceptance this week Of the
conference report on the rivers and
harbors bin goodly sums are assured
for improvements in Hawaii. The bill
carries an item of 100000 for Homo
lulu harhor There probably will be a
balance from funds now available for
etmplcting the old Honolulu harbor
project, and II is hoped to use this
bHlance by authority of congress,
which eau easily be obtained, for the
new Kalihi channel project. This may
also help along toward an additional
quarter. dollars for that i'm
proyement,
The rivers and harbors law. which
probably will have been signed by
President Wilson before this letter
rcnches Honolulu, carries $250,000 for
the KahuIui west breakwater. The
appropriation was approved in spite of
the rule adopted by the house commit
tee not 20 include any new projects
and stands as a splendid testimonial to
the efficient work here of George Mex
Mcclellan. Indeed, the senate seems
70 have put this appropriation in the
bill largely ont of Difference to Mr.
s Mcclellan, nd the house cOnfPrPes as
scented TO the item for the same reason
In q kindred connection congress has
voted 100000 for a lighthouse station
Mt Honolulu.
Record Legislation for Hawaii
y These are some Of the larger items
IN the way Of appropriations, but it is
becoming apparent that this Demo
cratic congress at its first session has
been doing a very great deal for Ha-
wall. Probably more Legislation has
been passed for the Territory than by
any other congress since annexation.
10 the category Is an act urged by the
Honolulu chamber of commerce trans
ferring to the county. treasures the
payments made by public service cor
pofatiOns Of a per cent of their gross
receipts. Congress shas likewise done
much in enlarging the powers of the
public utilities commission over public
service corporations. The board of
harbOr commissioners has been granted
larger powers. Closely related to these
measures is a number of bills, now law.
confirming original or extending exist
irg franchises to public utility corpo-
rntions. Congress has confirmed the
Kauai electric franchise and extended
the operative areas of the Island Flee
tic Company Of Maui, the Hawaiian
Electric and the Honolulu Gas Com,
pany in Oahu. This legislation au-
thorizes the public utilities commits o n
70 order extensions of service under
reasonable conditions. The house has
also passed a gas franchise bill for
Hilo and il Is now before the senate
committee on Pacific islands and
Porto Rico. The house has favOrablv
reported bill to extend the HilO
street railway franchise.
Pension Bill May Pass
THE bill to provide retirement pay
for Judge Dole is on the house calendar
aAaFhas some chances of enactment nj
this session of congress.
The army appropriation bill, as now
befnre the senate, carries $4,000 Ia
provide for SURVEYS for the military
roads on the island Of Oahu. If these
SURVEYS for location of roads and est.
mates of cost had been prepared by
the military department Of Hawaii, an
appropriation might have been forth
coming for that work at this session
Nstiit is, the war department is now
well committed TO the project, and II
is not Improbable that the roads will
be authorized before this congress
ends ON March next.