The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-12

rtiinons without hrst giving them a
fair trial. ana Legislators too often
have displayed an ignorance or dis
regard OF existing laws spreading
the idea that new legislation was a
sure-aIl for any undesirable condi-
ton while it was often only a po-
iitieal play. and the enforcement Of
the existing laws was utterly neg
lected.
Public control or regulation OF
public service corporations By. per-
manent commissions, has come and
come to stay. Control Of regulation
exercised through such d body has
many advantages over that exercised
through regular Legislative bodies
or committees. The permanent COM
mission VIII be a quasi-jddiciaI body.
It should be made up OF members
whose duty It will be, and who win
have the desire, the time and the
opportunity, to fam1iarize them
selves with the questions coming be-
fore them. It should act only after
thorough investigation and be gov
erned by the equities OF each case.
it would in time establish course
of practice and precedent for the
guidance of all concerned.
Control Not Operation.
Epperience has also : demon
STATED that this Supervision should
stop at control and regulation
and not manage, operate NOR die
tate what the management or obeF-
alton should he be beyond the re-
quirements Of the greatest. efficiency
and economy.
Enlargement or operation re.
quires intimate knowledge and ex-
perience which can only be gained
by continuous, active and practical
participation in actual working,
while control or regulation can be
lntelligently exercised ate judicial
hearing, by those who have not the
knowledge or experience to oper-
ate.
State control or regulation should
be Of such character as to encourage
the highest possible standard III
plant, the utmost extension Of facii.
tiles, the highest efficiency in SER
vice, rigid economy in operation and
to that end should allow rates that
WIN warFaht the highest wages for
the best service, some reward for
high efficiency in administration, and
such certainty of return on invest
ment as viii hdiice sinvestors s not
only tosretain their securities; buht
to supply at all times all the capital
needed to meet the demands of the
public.
Such control and regulation
can and should stop all abuses of
capitalization, OF. extortiou or Of
overcharges, of unreasonable di-
pison offproats.
State Protection in Return.
"1f there is to be state control and
regulation, there should be state
neutrality-suspicious. to a cor
poratlon striving to serve the whole
community (some part of whose
service must necessarily be unprof-I
itab!e) from aggressive competition
which covers only that part which lis
profitable.
Government control should pro-
tect the investor as we'll as the pub-
lie. 1t should ensure to the public
good service and fair rates. III
should also ensure fair returns 10
the investor.
When thoroughly understood It'll
will be found that control will
give more of the dement's and public
advantages, which are expected to
ne obtained by state ownership, THANH
could be obtained through suucn
Ownership. and Will obtain them
without the public burden Of either
the public ofFice-holder or public
debt or operating deficit. 1t is con-
coded that as rule private manage
ment is better, more economical and
more efficient than public manage
ment, and much more advanced aud
enterprisilg. The economical mar
gin between public ann private
has been shown by ex5l
Derience to be more than sufficient
to secure the best private admins