The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-22
THE UTILITIES BILL
Don't Think Corporations Are
All Against 1t.
Here's Big One That Is Strong
Iy i'm Favor of 1t.

There seems to be a mistaken idea
that all of the corporations are against
the utilities bill.
This is not true.
Mr.. W. P. HemphiIl, the general man.
ager of the largest telephone exchange
in Kansas. namely, the Topeka Inde-
pendent Telephone company. takes a
view that is not generally attributed to
the corporation interests. Mr.. Hemp-
hills company in Topeka is not onlv a
very large one, but it has allied with If
three hundred home and Independent
telephone companies scattered over the
state; it is safe to consider that his
views are not at variance to those of
the auxiliary lines over the state Here
is what he said today:
''The Topeka Independent Telephone
company is friendly to the proposition
for a public utilities law. 1t is per-
fectIy willing that all disputed oues-
tions regarding rates and regulations
shall be tried before a commission of
fair men who are, studying these ques-
tions and are familiar with the rights
Of the public and of the public service
companies.
I'VE feel that a law under which all
companies must charge all its patrons
alike, that is the same rate for the
same kind of service, without any dis
public and of the company alike. No
one can rightfully complain of equal
rates if they are fair.
1.-The proposition to regulate the is
sue of stocks and bonds should not be
Objectionable to any fair minded COM
pany.
THE proposed law should be amend
ed so as to permit city councils to grant
franchises running definite length of
time. Otherwise cities will find it inn
possible. to get capital interested in
new propositions This does not affect
our company in the slightest and prob
ably does not affect Topeka, but it will
affect many cities throughout the state.
ct believe that large majority of the
Independent Telephone people are for
the passage of a fair and reasonable
utilities bill. The passage of the bill
as amended by the house judiciary
committee will have the effect of maxi
ing the securities of utility companies
more valuable, therefore more markets
able, for the reason that a commission
will remove the danger arising from
prejudices and disputes which often
work great injury to the utility.
AT the present time the utility has
little protection from designing men
who see chance to attack it knowing
full we'll that the public is easily in
f1uenced against public service COM
panies This situation frequently works
great injustice to franchise companies
and is the greatest bar to the invest
ment of capital in these public neces-
stiles.
1.-The present public attitude toward
utility companies is due very largely
to the fact that it has no institution to
stand guard over its interests, to care
fully investigate conditions and to de-
termine the right or wrong of issues
when they arise. -s~
1.-The public is not unfair, find, when
it knows what's right and it is the lack
of a comprehensive and just agency in
which the public has faith to determine
what is right that often times makes
its attitude unfair and unjust.
"a fair commission law will make a
channel through which both the utility
and public can secure needed redress
from injustice. Present methods of Sc
curing justice are as questionable to
the utility as it is to the public and I
cannot see what harm can be done any
company desiring to do a straightfor-
warded business
''The cost of putting into operation
the law as at present amended by the
house judiciary committee will be ex-
ceedingIy small as compared with the
cost of enforcing the Wisconsin law.
The bill in it's amended form is broad
enough to cover all of the needs in this
line at this time
"As the cities of the state become
more populated it may be necessary in
the future to enlarge the scope of such
a law but for the present, at least, the
commission will not be restricted for
proper authority to cope with existing |