Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-10-16


tyrannical abuse of usurped power.
The present situation has ariser
from the fact that the creature ha.
| forgotten its relation to it's creator.
1t is fundamental in the discussion
of the public service corporations tt
remember that they are not private
corporations. They are public Servic,
corporations. They are the creature.
of the state. They owe their very life
to the state. "They are but the serv-
ants and the state is the MASTER
They are created by the public fol
/ the benefit of the public" They owe
duty of service to the people as wei
as coupons and dividends to the stock
holder.
Dividends on Fictitious Capital
| Bonds and stock eve been issued
not only on their franchises which cost
! nothing. but stock is often watereC
without respect to values In turn the
properties have been run and service
| charged so as to earn dividends or
these false values.
AS a result charges have been ex-
| cesSive, equipment inadequate, and
service often denied.
| We have complained and they have
I scoffed at our complaint We have
| told them of the peoples rights and
the peoples power, and they have de-
MED the right of the people to regulate
or control their service or their rates.
All political parties in Wisconsin
| recognize and admit the situation and
! the demand and necessity for relief
The debate on that phase of the Ques-
/ ton may be considered closed since
/ The Sentinel in an editorial just prior
to the state convention urged the rea-
sonableness of state regulation.
! AS city attorney of Madison, l. with
Mr- II nYAy rlI -
Madison against the Madison Gas &
Electric company Col Bird 1epre-
scented certain taxpayers. The city
there sought to compel the Madison
Gas & Electric company to furnish gas
at reasonable rates Thus the right
of the city to regulate the prices for
services by the gas company and other
public service companies, was raised.
Our supreme court decided thai our
special city charter did not grant this
power to our city. But in sending that
decision our supreme court laid down
the far-reaching doctrine that the leg
islature has the power to fix and de-
termine the rates TO be charged for
gas and electricity and other public
services rendered by the different pub
lie service corporations in this state.
I The court further determined that the
legislature might grant this power to
the different cities and villages Of the
state.
In response to this condition and this
decision of our highest court our plat
form provides as follows: 1--WE favor
governmental control and regulation of
ali public service corporations, so that
there shall be opportunity for the bene-
fit of the people for whom they were
intended
Favors Municipal Ownership
We favor such legislation as will en-
able municipalities to own, construct
and acquire by purchase such public
service utilities as they may deem
proper, and to enable them to do so
we favor amending the constitution re-
moving the debt limit of municipalities,
for the purpose of enabling them to ac-
quire such public service utility, but
for this purpose only.
Thus our platform squarely meets
and remedies the situation.
This judgment of our court which
fully and finally determines the right
of the state TO fix charges for public
service of these corporations and to
delegate this power to the different
municipalities together with the en-
actment of laws giving to cities and
villages these powers, together with a
right to purchase or build such public
service utility plants as they deem
proper, will place the control of these
corporations absolutely where it be-
longs; that is, in the hands of the peo-
pie interested.
To obtain the basis for fair and just
action along these lines it will be neces-
sary first to have a valuation of these
different properties throughout the
state to be made by the tax commits
sion to determine actual value and
thereafter to have the commission es-
tablish a uniform system of bookkeep-
ing and accounting.
Reasonable Charges for Service
1t must be conceded as fundamental
that all these companies are entitled
to a fair reasonable return on the
values of their plants considering the
services rendered and the risks in
Cured. If any city shall seek to deny
them reasonable charges the courts
will see that they receive them.
Having secured the basis for action
through the valuation by disinter-
ested board and a uniform system of
bookkeeping and accounting opened
to interested officials we believe in q
large measure of Self-goVernment. We
then believe that the power to de-
termine rates, to determine the ade-
quacy of services and equipment
should rest with the cities and the
villages interested subject. of course to
appeal to the courts. The cities, that
is, the mayor and common council
best know the needs of the people;
they best know the nature of the SER
vices that is being rendered and hav-
ing the basis for exact knowledge of
the value of the plant and costs of
maintenance and operation, we believe
that the mayor and common council of
our cities have the honesty courage
and capacity to determine what
services and equipment are reason
it, 49, -
charges therefor.
Removing the debt limit for the pur-
pose of allowing cities to purchase
or build utility plants was nee
essary to secure the relief desired.
Many cities are now indebted approx
imately to their limit They would
be prevented from building a gas or
lighting or other utility plant. The
removal of a limit Of Indebtedness
for these purposes may not induce
them to build such plant but it will
put into their hands a club with
which they may COMPEL fair and
equitable treatment.
The Republican platform and the
relief promised touches only a single
phase of the question, what is the rate
or charge for service. These are pub
lie service corporations. What you
complain of in this city is not only
the rate of service but the service it
self the frequency CT service, the ade-
quacy of service. You complain of
overcrowding, you complain of barn
like cars; you complain of refusal Of
service.
You complain not only of the price
of gas and electricity and telephone
rates, but of the quality Of such pro-
duct and service. You complain of
discrimination You complain of
equipment. You complain OF the fail
ure to render services. The Demo-
cratic plan is intelligent full and
complete 1t covers not only regula-
ton and control Of the rates but of the
service.