The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-05-21
WANTS TO Be FAIR
Member of State Railroad Com.
mission Assures Corporations
of Fair Treatment
MUST TELL COMMISSION ALL

Wisconsin Gas Manufacturers met in
Milwaukee on Thursday evening and
n the speeches for the evening there
was interesting repartee between John
| I. Beggs, who is accredited with own
| ing all of the gas plants in Southern
Wisconsin whether he does or not, and
Prof. B. L. Meyer of the Wisconsin
Railroad Commission. It was in way
a heart-to-heart talk, and as Kenosha
now has an investigation on before the
Rate Commission, the statements of
Prof. Meyer and Mr.. Beggs will be of
interest to the people who are watching
for the outcome of the hearing.
Prof. Meyer, in defining it's policy,
said that the commission would treat all
corporations fairly. If they came be-
fore the commission and frankly stated
the facts, the commission would stand
with them for what was right, even
if SO or IS per cent of their customers
were against them But he urged the
companies to come with the facts and
not try to cover up anything. Prof.
Meyer said there need be no apprehen-
sion as to investments fairly made.
Each dollar honestly invested in good
aith would meet fair treatment at the
hands of the commission. "The com
mission will be with you so long as you
are right, " said Prof. Meyer. "Treat
he commission fairly, and you will be
reated fairly" He wished to empha-
size the point that corporations come
to the commission with absolute fair
ness regarding the facts. Nothing but
bsolute facts would meet the situa-
ton. Tt was the aim Of the commits
sion, he said, to assist both consumers
nd the companies by intelligent and
fair regulation. Whatever was right
would stand, and that alone.
Mr.. Beggs said what the country
needed was fair regulation, and he was
glad to hear Prof; Meyers definition of
what the policy Of the commission
would be. Intelligent regulation was
needed to meet the clamor raised by a
public press to furnish material for
demagogues. Something was needed
to stop the outcries Of designing poll
ticians. He deprecated the fact that
the country had drifted into a position
where to accumulate something was a
crime in the eyes of large number of
people. He was not there to defend
those who had proved recreant to
trusts, but because there was one bad
example, honest business men ought not
to suffer. There were shortcomings, he
admitted, in public utility companies,
but not only in Wisconsin, but all over
the country. Mr.. Beggs said he had for
twenty five years urged this intelligent
regulation Of public utilities He cited
the Massachusetts system of regulation,
and said no securities of public utility
companies in that state were being
hawked about in other states for invest
ments, because every one knew they
were safe and protected That was the
intent of the Wisconsin law of 1907. and
he welcomed it.
Mr.. Beggs then took up his text and
talked on the maintenance of systems,
hoWing what had been done in com
panies with which he was connected.
He said that in these 17A cents per
1000 feet of gas manufactured was set
aside to meet certain accounts, exclu-
slve of any depreciation account. This
ccount would vary with different
plants.
IT believe in giving the best service
practicable, not possible,' he said, in
defining his position. ct make a diff
erence between possible and practical
Die. A seat for every passenger in the
much abused street car system is pos
ible, but not practicable. Plants
should be kept up to a high state of
efficiency all the time, and not only
when on dress parade, expecting a visit
from the experts Of the rate commits
sion. Then the companies could come
before the rate commission and show
what they had been doing for series
of years, and not weeks.
IT have perfect faith in the honesty
of the rate commission said Mr..
j Beggs, concluding
/ N