Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-12
ALLEN r. FooTE PRAISES PUBLIC
UTILITY MEASURE.
SPEAKS TO LEGISLATURE
Public Utility Monopolies Will Be-
come the Friends and Servants of
the People if Controlled and Reg
ulated as Outlined in the Bill. He
Says.



The public utilities bills now pend
ing before the legislatures OF the
states of New York and Wisconsin
have world wide significance and i'm
portance The first is the worst, the
second the best measure of its kind
have ever read
Such was the declaration OF Allen
Rlply Foote OF Columbus, Ohio, in
address before the legislature yester
day. Continuing. Mr.. r'oote said:
No general question OF govern
mental policy occupies at this tim
SO prominent a place in the thoughts
OF the people as that OF properly reg
ulating, without unnecessarily check
ing the growth OF corporate power
AS urban citizens are closely in touch
with corporations operating under
municipal franchises, and as the leg
islation OF municipal councils and
state legislatures readil. responds tc
clearly defined demands such cor
share of local and state consideration
For this reason, the generally ac
cepted policy OF municipalities and
states for regulating public utility
corporations will become the sure
foundation OF national policy fol
the regulation of interstate and ma
tional undertakings.
That state which first succeeds il
intelligentIy changing its system, on
rater want of system, of organizing
and regulating public utility corpora
ations, by adopting a system in con
tormity with the outline herein given
Will soonest establish conditions thai
VII induce the greatest degree Of
prosperity and well being for its mu
nicipaNties and their inhabitants. 81
cJn itoned aud SC controlled, publ;
utltv lnonopolies viii become tho
friends anu servants of the people
and will render the best services o.
which they are capable at the loves
economic cost TO users.
The enactment of the Wisconsin
measure viii be the most importan
single piece of legislation ever enacted
by the legislature 81 .. American
state. 1t means emancipation from
prejudice for the American people. /
rueans emancipation from preiudic,
for the American people. 1t meant
the end of the rule Of political an,
financial spectators. 1t means the be
ginning of the rule of correct mora
and economic principles honestly an
7 intclligently applied in the laws an
I the administration of the laws of Amer
can states. Only those are great VIII
Irove themselves to be the equals O
their opportunities.
Economic Principles to be Appl ed.
Honesty-The people must be tol,
the truth Knowing the truth. thei
demands viii be just. Their demand
for reasonable rates is demand 70
honest rates. Their demand that re
bates, determinations and preferences
by means of which special advantage
are obtained by the favored Jew, shat
cease, is a demand for Justice Tn
user who pays the price charged for
i public service has the right to know
I that it is an honest price He demand
that the law. and those who admins
ter the law, shall guarantee to hin
that il is an honest price. When h
has that guarantee, he is satisfied, n
matter what the price may he Tn
memorable requirement of honesty dc
mands that he shan pay such a price
with as relentless a dictation as tina
! those who make the price shall fix al
| honest price The fundamental pun
pose Of regulation must be the fxin
OF an honest price. This purpos
carnot be accomplished without al
Intelligent application OF the mora
Principle Of honesty in the law tina
atves form and direction TO the regula
ton.