Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-19

for this reform In the interests Of the
people.
1t seems to us that tho questions to
be asked in relation to measure OF
this kind are whether II Ia just, roa-
sonable and desirable. considered from
all points Of view. II the measure
meets all OF these requirements, no
good ground for opposing tho enact
ment OF law along those lines can
be reasonably opposed. A proposed
law may be reasonable and Just and
still not sufficiently desirable to war
rant its enactment. The first question
to be answered therefore is whether
n public service commission is desir-
able from the standpoint OF the pub
lie, or in other words. Of the people
who patronize such public utilities.
We believe the answer, whether
based on actual experience or on sim
ple observation. will be in the af,irma-
tive. At the present time telephone
and telegraph companies and express
and electric light lines are largely a
law unto themselves, when once they
have secured the right to existence
and 10 conduct operations in our state.
To considerable extent public ser
vice corporation can give the people
the kind and extent OF service that
suits It, and IL the people are not sat
isfed, they can find fault. or simply
whistle. Antiduated apparatus. In
| competent service. disregard of per-
sonal rights, to say nothing of con-
veniences can be the rule, and the peo-
pie are helpless, except in cases where
II will be for the financial interest of
the company concerned to make i'm
provements. In short these public
service corporations often enjoy
practical, 81 not complete, monopolies.
II commission was needed ID
look after the rights Of
the public In connection with
railroads II follows as n matter of
course that kindred and similar pub
lie service corporations should have
supervision in order to safeguard the
rights and interests and welfare of
the public. There is little room.
therefore, for argument against the
desiraoility of the extension to other
public service corporations Of super
vision similar to that now exercised
with reference to railroads.
AS regards tho reasonableness and
business OF measure to establish
supervision over public service cor
porations, there Is still less ground
OF opposition to II. In the first place
these public service corporations de-
rive their right to existence as well
as to operate public utilities from the
people through the representatives of
the latter. Without such consent pub
lie utilities can not be developed.
Moreover these public service corpora
tons depend for their support and
| ii"iH'cHdHco vi tHe patronage or tie
people. without which they would be
compelled to cease operation and go
| out Of existence. 1t is not only rea
sonable. therefore, but It is also Just
| that the people through their gov
| eminent should have legally cstab-
| lished means OF exercising some re-
| straint over such companies as we'll
| as supervision OF service
1t may be urged that vicious COM
| mission might work disaster to a pub
| lie service company. but the same ar
gument would prevent US from plac-
ing any man In a governing position
| over us. AS a matter OF fact commits
sions are always hedged about with
| restrictions. and the rights Of every
public service commission are safe so
| long as the law providing for such
commission Is wisely drawn.
| Practically every State has a rail-
road commission at tho present time
and no one would think Of abolishing
the Same. New York under the lead
of Governor Hughes has established
public utility commissions, which the
people have now endorsed by their
| votes. and II Is safe TO say that at an
| early day every State IN the Union
will have similar bodies. TO look out
for the interests and welfare Of the
people. Every consideration, there
fore, sacred pledge, self interest
public welfare and the spirit OF prog
ress, calls for the enactment OF law
establishing q public service commits
sion in Vermont
THE FAVORITE FLOWER OF JUDGE