The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-16
STUBS AROUSED.
Governor Greatly Interested in
Utilities Bill.
Says That 1t Will Not Hurt
Honest Corporations.
PLEDGED VOTE RUMOR
Said That Defeat of Measure Is
Assured.
VIII Come Up in the House
Tomorrow.
PLEDGED VOTE RUMOT

The public utilities bill. which is to
come on for hearing in the house of
representatives as soon as the good
roads bills are disposed of, likely some
time tomorrow. is attracting more at
tention just now in legislative circles
than any measure introduced at this
session. The corporations of the state
which furnish necessities to the people
are greatly exercised over this bill and
declare that it will seriously cripple
them in the conduct of their affairs.
These corporations and their paid
agents are moving heaven and earth
to prevent the passage of this bill
which places their affairs under state
supervision with view to secure for
the public adequate service at reason
able rates and prevent corruption,
questionable practices and undue
profits
The latest story going the rounds is
to the effect that the heads of several
of the largest corporations in the state
have declared that they have pledged
enough votes to prevent the passage OF
this bill The story comes from a high
and impartial source.
Governor W. r. StubbS is more anX-
ious that this bill regulating public ser
vice corporations should be enacted
into a law than any other bill before
the legislature. He believes that II
the people Of the state at large than
any other one bill Speaking today or
the claim of the corporation attorneys
that the bill will injure their business
the governor said:
This bill if enacted into a law VIII
not affect any corporation that Is CIV
ing reasonable service at reasonable
cost without discrimination to its Gus
toners any more than the common law
affects men living upright, honest nNeS-
The commission is authorized TO
supervise the issue of stocks and bonds
and make physical valuation OF proper
ties but these provisions will not affect
adversely any property or utility that
IS being operated upon sound busl-
ness basis
Corporations furnishing heat. light:
water transportation telephone and
telegraph service to the public come IN
der the provisions of the law.
The bill provides that these corpora
tions shall be placed under the control
of a commission which shall have
power to mix in their affairs only so
far as adequate service, reasonable
prices and decent conduct of their busi-
ness is concerned. The only unreason-
able provision of the law from the
standpoint of the corporations is the
law itself which calls for a regulation
of their affairs in the interest of the
public which they provide with the
necessities at terms and by means tnal
suit themselves.
1t is a square deal measure.
The roll call vote on this measure
when it comes up for final passage IS
going to make mighty interesting
reading for the general public, and al
so the attitude and vote Of the mem
bers while the bill is under amend
ment and debate
The friends of the utilities bill have
defied the corporation agents fighting
the measure to place their finger on
one section of the bill that works a
hardship. injury or handicap on the
prosecution of their business at gen
erous profits. The friends of the bill
claim further that the market value
of the stock of not a single utility
corporation in the state will be in
1ured to the value of one dollar by the
passage of this bill. They claim still
further that the bill is directed
against the greed of gain of certain
corporations at the expense of the
people who have to patronize them
for the necessities of life and not
against the honest and decent cor
poration which gives fair service at
reasonable prices and runs its busi-
ness in a decent and legal manner.