The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-23
Saturday, May 81, zoos.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION.

bUN fsiAN mENI ItlSGl IAIIbN.
The Economic club OF New Haven /
did It's members and the public gen
orally a genuinely useful service IN |
bringing here Mr. Maltble, who IS
one of the public utilities commits
sloners for the city OF Greater New
York, Up to the time OF his appear
dnce the consideration of the propos-
al to create a similar commission In |
Connecticut has proceeded, arst from
the realization that something must
be done to reinforce the hands OF the
general assembly, and second from
the interest the New York experiment
has provoked. 1t has on that ac-
count been theoretical discussion, In
which the doubts of the skeptcal and
the fears of the public service cor
poratons have been necessarily met.
Mr. Maltbie's address was grounded
on practical experience and to that
extent challenged the resistance Of
the forces. which regard with disfavor
any departure from old ways while It
strengthened the hands of those who
believe that II Is for the interest Of
the corporations as for the public
generally that some instrument be
created for the proper regulation and
control of the public utilities by the
government.
Mr. Maltble was exceedingly happy
in his presentation of the causes
which have made some more extend
ed form OF government regulation
necessary, II the public, on the one
hand, Is to be protected against the
possible encroachment OF monopolistic
powers, and the public service corpo-
ration. on the other hand, Is to be
guarded against more vlndictive IN.
reference on the part of govern
ment The public has been made
suspicious of corporate unselnshness
and yet the extension of corporate
control of public utilities has been de-
manded IN the interest of a better SER
vice. 1t is better for the public to be
served by one common carrier than
to be served by a number of compet-
ing carriers; 1t Is better for the pub
lie to be served by one gas company
than by a number OF competing gas
companies; It Is better for the public
to be served by one telephone com
pany and by one electric light com
pany than be served by number Of
telephone companies and by num-
Der of electric light companies. But
what the public has to guard against
in conceding this general proposition
Is restricted to Administrative duties.
to the Instruments already In exist
ence is not to be regarded as a means
of giving the public what 1t has no
right to expect, or of taking from the
public service corporations powers
which it is right they should possess;
it Is rather to smooth out the natural
partnership existing between the two
and bring them into such close har-
mony of purpose that both will be the
gamers in the end.
Already the state of New York has
discovered with only eleven months Of
experience with its two public utilities
commissions that u most important
instrument of administrative govern
ment has been created. In all of the
cases which have been heard and adj
justed not one corporation has failed
to acquiesce in the judgment render
ed while on the part of the consum-
ers but one has refused to accept the
decision in a pleasant frame OF mind
In each case decided a positive gain
was recorded in the joint relationship
of corporation and consumer, gain
which in the absence of the listening
voice Of the legislature, or the capaci.
ty Of the courts to hasten a conclu.
sion, would not have been recorded
1t has been possible, in other words
for aggrieved parties to have theil
complaints heard and adjudicated II
a speedy and Just manner. Mr. Malt
bic gave many Illustrations Of tn,
prompt settlement Of cases, which
were of the greatest concern to- tn,
public welfare but which We're case!
which would have been indefinitely
postponed had the old machinery
been depended upon. Not only tha
but these appeals nave had the eliec
Of lessening appeals to the genera