The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-01-14
Appleton Man Would Have Govern
ment of Corporations in Hands
Of Local Commissions
OF INTEREST TO kENosHA
New Law Would Leave Management of
Public Utilities in the Hands of
Men Who Understand the
Local Conditions

State Senator-elect j. Elmer Lehr of
| Appleton is working on an amendment
of the public utility law, which he will
introduce in the legislature.
| Mr.. Lehr proposes to give the gov
erning boards of each town, city and
village, or a local commission Of three
property owners, the power to regulate
the public utlllties in their respective
Localities. But should they make rul-
ng which the public utility corporation
does not like, or which freeholders do
not think is right, a hearing can be
demanded when evidence will be taken,
as is done before the state commission.
| Should the board still stand by it's
ruling an appeal may be taken to the
state commission, as is now done when
a case is taken from the Circuit to the
| Supreme Court. The evidence taken be-
fore the local board would be submitted
to the state commission, thus eliminat-
ing the enormous expense of taking the
| witnesses to Madison, ETC.
Before framing his bill, Mr.. Lehr, sub.
mitted his proposition to jurists and
municipal and corporation attorneys
throughout the state and has been en-.
couraged by the replies he has received.
1.-The advantages Of the amendment
are," says Mr.. Lehr, as follows:
II. You bring the handling AMI
management of your local affairs and
business interests within the communi-
ty, where all the conditions are, best
known and understood.
2s'. 1t is a great saving Of expense.
All testimony can be taken before your
local commission or municipal council
at a much less expense then you can
have trial upon any matter before the
state commission, especially is this true
Of many Of our northern cities, the
representatives of which have to travel
miles with their witnesses and be at a
great expense to transport books,
records, papers, and files.
"3. The adjudication upon any mat
ter before the state commission affects
only the particular matter before it
and the particular locality. It does not
become a law whereby other places ia
the state can derive any benefit from
| it at all, as local conditions in each and
every instance differ. sc
"a. The idea of home government
under an amendment Of this kind can
not help but appeal to the great mass
Of democratic thinking and consider
ate people.
''The object Of amending this law is
to furnish the, people better and more
adequate service and reach the evils
now existing in matters attempted to be
covered by the utility act.
II believe that the various munici-
palities should have the absolute right
to control the price Of electric light, gas
and water rates, regulate telephone, and
telegraph rates, and prices, and all of
their properties within the several
municipalities. Absolutely handle, con
troll and regulate the street car and
interurban roads equipment and ser
vice. in the interests of the people, and
that said several municipalities ought
to compel the erection, construction or
extension of street car line whenever
it is demanded in the interests of the
citizens Of the several localities where
such property is situated.
II believe that the granting of all.
public franchises should be absolutely
regulated by the statute under the pro-
vision Of either local commission or
the municipal council, with the right
of appeal to the state commission and
the Supreme Court in the manner here
| inbefore outlined