The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-02-01
AUTHORITY over
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Granted by Measure to Rail-
road Commission.
COPIES WISCONSIN STATUTE

GUflES WlSGUu0ln OlAlUlE
Committee Embodles In Its Report the,
Result of lite Investigation in Neigh
boring state-Governor Sends spe-
eIal Message to the Senate Regard
Ing Employers Liability and Work
lngmen's Compensation. !,
st. Paul, Jan. 29.-Public utilities
! Of all kinds except street railways are
placed under the supervision Of the
state railroad commission in public
| utilities bill introduced in the house
by Carl Wallace of Minneapolis, J. H.
Dorsey of Glencoe and w. H. Put
nam of Red Wing, the committee
which went to Wisconsin week ago
to Investigate the workings of the pub
lie utilities law in that state. The
committee preceded the introduction
of the bill by report stating some
of the advantages of the Wisconsin
method, which, instead of creating a
new commission, as New York and
other states have done, placed all
these powers under the existing rail-
road commission.
The Wisconsin bill was passed two
years ago and the Minnesota bill Is
copied very closely after 1t. Street
railways were placed under the super
vision of the railroad commission
when it was created in that state SO
the bill in that state did not need tc
mention them and the principal rea-
son why the committee did not put
them into their bill was that there is
already a bill in the house placing
them under the railroad commission
All other public utilities, including
telephone lines, gas and electric
plants, waterworks and heating plants
are placed under the supervision of
the commission, whether owned by
corporations or-by the municipalities
The commission is given power to
regulate rates and service and in the
case of municipality owned plants their
principal work will be that of giving
expert advice regarding the manage
ment of the plants.
Saving and Increased Effioieroy.
In the report the committee said
that the Wisconsin commission told
them that with the extra help provid-
ed they we're able to handle the extra
work. The relations between the COM
mission, state departments and the
university were cordial and there
was big saving and increased eff
cheney because the technical depart
ments Of the state university are con-
suited and give additional service.
The Wisconsin commission received
1900 complaints during It's first year
enet o5 per cent of these were ADJUST
ed by correspondence.
The act also provides a means by
which municipalities can acquire and
operate existing plants at fair valua-
ton. =T
| Governor Johnson sent to the SEN
ate a special message bearing on en-
| ployers' liability and worsSingmen's
compensation. He refers to the fact
that he had touched upon the "com-
mon law doctrine as to the non1iabilf-
ty Of the master to the servant for In
juries occurring through the negli.
gence of fellow servant" In his BIZ
ennial message, but that since then
the matter has been thoroughly in.
vestigated by employers, the labor
commissioner and representatives of
labor The purpose of their meetings
has been to secure legislation for a
more adequate adjustment in the set
Element of personal cases.
Two New Laws Desired.
Along with the message was sent a
/ petition for the enactment of two
laws, one providing for the appoint
ment of commission Of three to in
vestigate the question, and the other
requiring all accidents to be reported
to the commissioner of labor by en-
ployes and those who give aid to the
injured, as policemen, firemen and
doctors.
If the senate joins the house by a
large enough majority, the public ex-
aminer will not be patronage for the
governor after the present term. The
committee of the whole recomm end
ed w. A. Nolan's bill to pass, making
the Office elective.
A water supply commission Is pro-
vided in bill introduced In the house
by Oscar Christensen of st. Paul. It
provides for three commissioners to
be appointed by the state auditor who
shall Investigate the whole subject Of
water power in the state and devise
a general plan by which all this wa
ter power may be developed and
utilized under state ownership and
control
The memorial services for Senator
Patrick Fitzpatrick of Winona in the
senate called forth the best display of
oratory which has been heard in that
body for several years. Senator Fitz-
patrick died during the summer.
Minnesota's fair daughters had their
day in court when fully 100 woman
suffragists crowded the rooms of the
! Joint senate and house committee on
elections in the hearing granted them
on Senator Ole o. Sageng's universal
suffrage measure
! After the women had concluded
their arguments they we're roundly ap-
plauded by the members of the COM
mittee, who, however, made no com
. ~, =, 49, y. n