The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-04-14
kauai MERCHANTS
Want commission
TO CHECK MAKEE
Sixteen Kapaa Storekeepers Pro.
test To Utilities Board Against
Railways Freight Rates
LEGAL QUESTION WHETHER
BODY HAS JURISDICTION
Commission viii Hear Hawaii
Supervisors On Franchise Of
HiIo Traction Company

The public utilities commission viii
be busy with Investigations the next
four or FIVE weeks. Plans for a trip
to Hilo, leaving tomorrow to hear the
supervisors of Hawaii and the Hilo
Board of Trade orr the matter Of the
! proposed amendments TO the franchise
of the Hilo Traction company. were
made at a session of the commas ioners
Yesterday afternoon. This hea ring will
take place in Hilo Friday and il is
thought the commissioners will get
back Sunday morning in the Wilhel
nina, on which boat they will make the
trip to the Crescent City.
Hawaii Telephone Rates
II was their intention to take up tn,
matter Of the rates Of the Hawaii TeIe-
phone Company but il was decided that
longer notice to interested parties
should be given than would be possible
at this time 10 that hearing was post
pOned until May IS. Until the final
meeting the rates of the company will
not be changed, the old rates continu-
ing meantime.
On the hearing Of the complaints Of
the subscribers of the tel, phone com,
pany letter was received from Julian
Monsarratt, manager Of Kapapa'a
Ranch. that he wanted to appear he
fore the commissioners and voice his
plant against the company. He had
not had an opportunity, at the last
meeting as sufficient notice had not
hnnaa NtN hts, 80 Cd h. -
meeting AT interested paities will be
given due notice this time by publica-
tion in several languages in the papers
of GENERAL circulation in the Big Island.
Notice was received from the county
clerk Of Maui that the town hail would
be pot at the disposal of the commits
siOners for their meeting in Waikiki
on May IA. On the completion of their
work there they will take steamer at
Lahaina for HilO leaving Maui on May
II.
Makoe Fixes Freight Rates
Kappa storekeepers through T. II.
Davies & Co. have asked the commits
sion to look into the rates charged them
by the hakee Sugar Company for haul
ing freight by rail from Kealia to Ka-
paa. Fhe rates have been raised by
the plantation management more than
the merchants think is Just. Sixteen
stOrekeePers signed the petition to the
commission
They state that the new rates are
- for hauling IS per week for the first
ton and fifty cents a ton for each ad-
ditional ton. These charges must be
paid weekly. Last year the plantation
charged $3.50 for twelve tons a quar-
ter, 50 for the first additional ton and
fifty cents a ton for all additional after
this first additional ton"
The commissioners referred the let
tiers 10 their attorney for investigation
as to their power to regulate or inquire
INTO the matter and on his report their
action will be guided.
1t was the opinion of the board that
1t had no jurisdiction over the railroad
but it also was thought that il was a
matter in which they might suggest
more equitable rates if the charges are
found 20 be unusual
Little Utilities Notified
The secretary of the commission was
instructed to notify W. A. Games OF
Wahawa and W. ?. McDougaI of Ko-
hala that they were maintaining pub-
lie utilities in the plants they are run
ring to supply residents of their d 8.
trIrt with electricity. Although neither
liant ls incorporated, as public utll ties
they come under the provisions of the
law and will have to live up to it.
Accident reports and other routine
matters took up much of the commits