The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-05-26
v BODIES SPEAK

No change in the control over the railroads of Hawaii is wanted
by the business interests, large or small, as is indicated by the vote
of the four chief civic organizations of the territory on the subject
of change of jurisdiction over certain of the utilities corporations
from the Interstate Commerce Commission to the territorial com
mossion. The reply has been given with a singular unaninity. Now
it remains to be seen whether or no congress will heed the will of
the industries of the Islands.
First of the chambers of commerce and boards of trade to vote.
on the subject was Honolulu. A committee of the chamber reported
in favor Of the pending bill and veshng of control in the territorial
utilities board. Its report was, however, overruled by a vote of 80
to 9, and at once the cry was heard that the meeting was packed.
On the face Of the returns such a charge was purile for it would
have been necessary for 40 members o. the chamber to have absent
ed themselves for the resolution to have passed. Seventeen in at
tendance would have been a small number for a meeting of so large
an organization as the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce.
Maui was almost unanimous in its Chamber of Commerce meet
ing, the one vote against the resolution opposing change in control
being cast more because of the fact that full data has not been
presented than because the voter favored the proposed change in
control Thirty to one was the vote on this Island. At Hlo the
Board of Trade was even more emphatic, not a vote being cast for
the proposed change. Kauai also voted to let matters continue as
they are, the figures not having reached Maui yet.
One organization is reported as having gone on record for the
pending bill, the League of Womens voters in Honolulu and with
all due respect to the women voters they can hardly be assumed to
be as well posted on business affairs and business needs of the ter
ritory as are the persons associated with the industries as organized
into chambers of commerce and boards of trade.
One organization to which the referendum was made sidestep-
ped, the Honolulu Rotary Club. Though that organization has fire.
quently expressed itself on subjects quite as much connected with
business affairs of the municipality or the territory as the subject of
utilities control it was held on this occasion that the body is a "social
organization" and as such should not declare itself.
Utilities other than the railroads appear to have entered into
consideration to a very limited extent and that is natural. 1t was
said in the documents connected with the referendum that the ques-
ton of jurisdiction over radio and telephone companies was now
pending in the territorial supreme court. The Maui telephone COM
pany is operating under a system and making charges in accordance
with permissions given by the utilities board.
Largely, it appears, the questions presented were whether the
present method was efficient and working satisfactorily, whether
the same degree of efficiency could be secured from a territorial
body and whether the cost of maintaining a thoroughly efficient
utilities control in Hawaii would not exceed the value of such an
organization to the community. The verdict of the business men
and interests indicates that the territorial body must first win the
full confidence of the community before greater authority will be
conferred upon it voluntarily.