The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-02-18
OPPOSE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, Bill
Many Speakers State Views
on the Measure.
KNOCKS OUT HOME RULE

Main Argument Advanced by the Op-
ponents Of the Measure Before
Committee on General Legislation.
Permanent Text Book Commission
Created in Bill Introduced by J.
A. Gates of Kenyon. I'd
st. Paul, Feb. 17.-Opponents Of
the public utilities bill in the house
gave some of their arguments against
the bill before the committee on GEN
eral legislation. The number of peo-
pie present at the hearing was so
large that they had to take the house
chamber for the committee meeting.
The principal argument against the
bill was that it destroyed home rule.
The bill is the one introduced by
Carl Wallace of Minneapolis, w. Fl.
Putnam of lied Wing and J. H. Dor
sey Of Glencoe, the committee which
visited Wisconsin and inquired about
the workings of the public utilities
law there.
Some of the speakers In arguing
against the bill said that the railroad
commission, elected only to supervise
the railroads, knew nothing about
other public utilities, could not under
stand the problems the cities have
been struggling with for years, and
are not experts in this line. This
brought from Mr.. Dorsey the state
mert that although he was a Demo
crat he would not be influenced by
any slurs upon the railroad commits
sion. The commissioner had been
elected by the people, and the people
know something about what they are
doing.
James Manahar, who had sat silent
until this, came to his feet with an.
fmpassionate reply, in which he
charged the railroad commission with
being unable to do its present work.
Says Bill Is Experimental.
j. M. Bennett Of Minneapolis said
that the bill was experimental, out of
harmony with the principles of our
government, never submitted to the
people or discussed In any: campaign,
that it violates every principle of home
rule and self-government and that it
was impractical because the commits:
sion knows nothing of local conditions
in the towns.
j. G. Michael, corporation attorney
Of st. Paul, thought it might be all
right to place telephones under the
railroad commission because they cov-
cred more than local territory but the
other plants ought to be left to the To-
cal authorities. Other speakers were
Alderman Plat Walker of Minneap-
ellis and Vice President Grimsrud of
the Minneapolis Wholesalers associa-
ton.
A second hearing will be given next
Wednesday on the bill when the au-
thors of the bill will present their ar.
guments for it.
A permanent text book commission
is created in a bill introduced by J.
A. Gates of Kenyon. The president
Of the state university, the superin-
tendent of public instruction, the Sec
rotary of state, the state auditor and
the state treasurer constitute the COM
mission. This board is to receive
bids for supplying printed books for:
the schools and may also receive Of
fers of manuscript and offers to com.
pile series of books. The bill names
the maximum prices which may be
charged for books, which run from 10
cents for first readers to 80 cents for
biographies.
81. !. nu. ou
49, = 's >"a'''
The batch of bills offered was small.
One by A. <. Ware of Mortified pro-
V1ding i've members OF the board OF
control instead of three and specify
Ing that not more than three shall be
OF the same political party was per-
maps the most notable.
a fourth Judge IS provided In the
fleventh district IN a Dill presented
Dy =. A. Coagdon Tor the st. Louis
cc1nty delegatlon.
Elmer Adams OF FERGUS Fails intro
duced the Dill agreed upon by the
temperance forces after the defeat OF
county option, which prohibits county
boards from Issuing any licenses. This
would do away with licensed saloons
outside OF city or village limits.
Inc mouse IN committee OF the