Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-18
BOARD
TO BE ABOLISHED

II may be stated on reliable authority
that the legislature, responding 10 the
demands of the new administration, Will
attempt to abolish the state railroad
commission, and create in It's stead
board Of control, to consist of three mem
bers, who shall be appointed by the gov
ernor, and whose terms of office shall con-
tinue until the ensuing general election.
The plan, ii is added, contemplates d.
vesting the board, or commission, of au-
thorfty over street railroads, gas and
electric companies, and other public util-
ity corporations whose functions are con-
fined solely, or in large part, to munich
palities
According to the information, which
comes from a person said to be In close
touch with the situation, the measure
will be introduced by an able and in
fiuentiaT member of the assembly, and
will be vigorously pressed, not only by
the author, but by others who believe
that the membership of the commission
should be reduced and its authority over
public utility corporations in municipali-
ties restored to the municipal authort-
ties.
1t is a fact that the Atlanta platform,
which was formulated and adopted by
the convention which nominated Govern
or-elect Brown, specifically declared for a
reduction in the membership of the rail-
road commission, and also pledged itself
in favor of divesting the board of its au-
thority over municipal corporations. The
eovernor-elect 1t has been repeatedly sta
ted, will in his inaugural message, follow
closely the lines laid down in the At
lanta platform. and this would indicate
that he will advocate the adoption OF
some plan to bring about these results.
The plan contemplates the adjustment
mis- hnNnnGa
stated the scheme is regarded as the
most expeditions means to the accom-
pllshment of an end-the reduction of the
membership from five to three. To reduce
the memberships by a simple amendment
naming the men who are to be dropped
has, II is pointed out, many Objectionable
features. In the first place, 1t is recog-
nized as a hard matter to legislate any
man out OF office, and. In the second place
II would be the poorest sort OF politics
to individualize.
1t would be infinitely easier to abolish
the entire commission, it is believed.
Such a step would not be discriminatory
against any one member. Nor would
public sympathy be so readily aroused
for the individuals. They would all be
in the same class.
The suggestion that the opposition Of
five men-ofice holders-to a legisla-
tive enactment would be more powerful
than the opposition Of only two finds
answer in the statement that the OPP
position OF three of these men might be
negatived, If 1t were understood that
they were to constitute the board Of
control.
The passage of an act abolishing the
commission, and creating a board Of
control of three members would In no
wise interfere with the appointment OF
former commissioner, or commits
sioners, to be members Of the new
board
The multiplicity of the duties OF the
commission-its authority over street rail-
roads, gas and electric companies, etc
has been used as an argument In favor
of five commissioners as against three.
1t has been stated repeatedly-and ii is
doubtless true-that five members are
required to attend to all the duties i'm
posed upon the commission by the recent
legislative enactment. The annual re-
port of the commission to the legisla-
ture will, it is stated. bear out this as
sertion.
But the new plan purposes to kill two
! birds with one stone, by relieving the
board of some of its duties and then
decreasing the membership to three, both
of which are advocated by the Atlanta
platform.
Relieve the commission of authority
over street railroads. gas and electric
companies, etc, and three men could
: easily attend to the duties of the office, -
Is the argument that will be used.