The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-22
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ONE:
 OF STATES NEEDS Railroad Commissioners Be lieve One Will Be Created
 By the Legislature GIVE EXAMPLES TO
 SHOW NEED FOR IT McCord and Julian Say the Scope of The State Body in Handling Util- ity Corporations Should
 Be Broadened slsa

That the legislature at it's next regular session will substitute for the railroad commission the commission of public utilities is the sincere belief of members of the present body, which holds in it's hands the destinies of the railroads in this state.
 While Charles Henderson, president of the railroad commission, did not make statement in this regard, Associate Com rnissioners Julian and McCord were out spoken in their belief that the functions of the board should be increased and tie scope broadened in order that it might do better service for the people of Ala bama.
 "As a matter of fact" stated Commis- sioner McCord, "a bill was introduced giving the railroad commission the au- thority to deal with all public utilities, railroads, express companies, telegraph and telephone companies, water, light and gas companies, and in fact, all com panies furnishing the people the convent eroes of life Governor ONeal, however, while he favored such bill, thought that to discharge the duties more mem- bers of the commission would be needed, and when an amendment to this effect was added the measure lost it's favor with the legislators"
 Functions of Commission
 That the time will come, however, when state board will arbtrate the differ ences between municipal governments and public utility corporations, and will pro- tect the people on the one hand, and the corporations on the other, is a cer tainty, according to Commissioner Julian. His idea can materialize. he states, with out adding a new member to the board, the simple need being the provision for an expense account requisite and the pro- ision for the employment of special agents and clerks. He states that such bill will be introduced again, and that he is confident of it's ultimate passage.
 ''The effect of a commission of public utilities would be felt in many beneficial ways,' stated MT. McCord- or ll- stance, in Montgomery at the present time, two power companies, in their eff forts to put each other out of business, have decreased rates to such an extent that ultimately one or the other will dis continue existence. Immediately. there after, the surviving company will increase rates as high as it pleases, and the peo- pie would be without the benefit of com petition Were tfie commission of public utilities in existence today, that com mission would force the two companies to increase their rates, and thus preserve competitio for the good of the com nunty. The commission would not allow one strong telephone company to put a weaker rival ont of existence. The com mission too, would look after the service O. gas and electricity, and would prevent irregularity in meters and the like. All in all, such a body would be, in my opin- ion, of incalculable value to this state. Such a commission exists in New York and in other states of the union, and its operations have been of a most sue cessful nature"