Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-09
J, A. MAGOON DEMANDS PEOPLES
RIGHTS IN FRANCHISEBE SERVED

at the meeting tnat the company ndO
! for years been trying 10 get this very
question before the Supreme Court but
could not do so as il had to be raised
! by the government; they could not
! raise it, What an outrage that after
all this earnest desire on the part Of
the company 10 have this question
decided by the Supreme Court when a
suit is brought where it could be
raised and decided, that the record is
| in such a shape that it will not be de-
cided What are We paying our -attOr
ney-general and all his numerous dep
uties for? And worse than all, what
are they hiring outside counsel to as
sist them for? Will the people stand
this kind OF misrule forever Let US
rise up in the might of righteous in
dignatiOn irrespective of party and de-
mand efficient and clean administra-
tion of public affairs. Have We not
gone far enough on the road to rnin?
"Thieving Of Public Money"
We have covered up our thieving
OF the public money until it is impos-
sible to conceal it longer. Our miser-
able streets have al last given us
away. We can't longer pull the wool
over our own eyes and If we could We
can't over the eyes OF the tourist who
comes here
But" says the company, we have
got the people in our grip and they
have got to come through If they want
these extensions" Have you, and in
what way? Let us find out what ex-
tensions the people want, then let the
icC Cd 10 hn
company and if they cannot be induced
to make them it will be time enough
to talk about a new franchise.
Giving Away Peoples Rights.
The existing charter provides for a
sinking fund to reimburse the stock.
holders for the amount of their capital
invested at the end Of the charter. If
the fund thus created is sufficient to
reimburse them for their capital in
vested mot bonus stock dividends)
with per cent thereon, the tracks at
least, / contend, will belong I'd the
people. The company surely will have
no license to tear up the streets to
remove the tracks after the eXpira-
ton of the franchise. These tracks
should be of the value at that time
OF million or Whereabouts. Is it pos.
sible that this is going to be given as
a present to the company at this time,
IA years before the expiration of the
charter? What possible justification is
there to thus give away the rights Of
the people? 1t is said that the plant
will be junk pile at that time Don't
be fooled. The charter reads that the
railway, together with its bran. hes
and connections, shall be thoroughly
and substantially constructed. The
cars for carrying passengers shall be
of the most approved construction for
the convenience and safety of such
passengers; whenever the company
refuses to do or fails to do or per-
form or carry out or comply with any
act, matter or thing requisite or re-
quired to be done under the provisions
Of their charter, the superintendent
of public works shall, with the con-
sent of the governor, cause proceed
ings to be instituted before the proper
tribunal to have the franchise and
all rights and privileges granted there
under forfeited and declared null and
void sr.
Is il believable for one moment that
the company under these provisions
would dare to let the plant deteriorate
into junk pile? And lastly they tell
us that the people Lave no control
over this company; that we are help
less. Let us zee how their charter
reads: 49,. ~.
Except as by this chapter so other
wise provided, the rights and privi-
leges named in section 769 hereof (the
section granting the right to construct
and maintain for 80 years this street
railway are granted to said associa-
ton and others upon such terms. con-
ditions and restrictions as are now or
may hereafter be imposed by the laws
of the Territory of Hawaii in rela-
ton to the matter of constructing and
street railways in the said
district of Honolulu, Island of Oahu,
and "a strict compliance with such
laws is hereby required of the said as.
sociation and others" FL
Let us exercise the power of control
that we have under the present chart
er and in case the company become
belligerent, and that proves ineffectu-
al, it will be time enough to look for
some other solution Of the difficulty.
]. ALFRED MACON.