Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-07-20
Public Utilities

Senator George Wright has bill
providing that all public utilities shall
be placed under the supervision OF the
department of the railroad commits
sioners. The plan is to have the same
regulation of the telephone. telegraph,
etc, that the state maintains over the
railroads
The principal grievance against the
present system is that there is prac
tically no basis upon which charges
of unfairness can be made against a
corporation. There is no way in
which the state can legitimately get
at the facts regarding the actual cost
of maintenance of any OF these big
concerns: what their expense of trans
acting business may be or to determ-
inc their profits. These are the very
facts required before equitable and
satisfactory adjustment of any dis
putes can be settled.
The Wright bill would seem to over
come these objections. The railroad
commission is given the power to
value all public utilities of the state
and these utilities are compelled to
keep and render periodically to the
commission, accurate and uniform ac
counts of their business. The books
of the firms shall be open to inspec-
ton at all times. The commission is
delegated the authority to determine
and order necessary and reasonable
rates, charges and regulations. They
are to keep informed of all new cen
struction and keep records of the cost.
When rate schedules are determined,
thy shall be recorded and the files
shal! be accessible &c the public al
it might be added, is in exact accord
with the we'll known views Of former
Governor Folk OF Missouri.
When a corporation charges more
than the published rate, they will
have violated the law and are subject
to penalty.
Any reliable mercantile or manu-
featuring society or any body OF TWEEN
ty-fiye or more persons may render
complaint to the commi ssion, which
shall be deemed sufficient for an in
vestigation. The commission may ap-
point an agent for the investigation
and il the complaint is found to be
justifable. the corporation must stand
, the cost. Should a municipality at any
time desire to purchase a utility, they
may do SO at a fair valuation Of the
property which shall be determined
| by the commission.
The bill is looked upon very favor
ably by many of the influential mem
bers of the senate.
Representative SERVANTS House Bill
/ ha,, rot 10
out OF the committee without BENZ
| loaded down with amendments, hut
there is hope of it's escaping The bill
provides for the INCORPORATION of cities
under commission. Objection has been
raised to the idea of having the con.
mission revoke the licenses Of saloons.
Certain persons, it seems, wo"l1 PEE
fer to have this done by process OF
law, which would mean the loss OF
weeks and possibly months in the
courts. The supreme court las mode
rulings which grant the municipalities
the power to revoke licenses without
carrying the matter into the co + 8.
Regarding salaries. it has been sug-
gested that they he arranged on a
percentage basis. The obiectioo +
this plan is that certain comm ssion-
ers, on account Of certain duties mi"' I
receive much larger salaries than 9th
ers that have c1ual responsibilities.
Following out their suggestions in
the Soldiers Home report the mem
bers of the INVESTIGATING comm tie
have introduced bill in both hoHsos
calling fer a board Of control, con list
ing Of three members. for the home.
The head Of the inst tuition would be
known as s permit ndeHt and nett e.
he nor the board members need be
O r so diers. Military discipline would
be dispensed with and provision is
made that DISABLED soldiers of the
Philippine instruction can be ON
other wars.
Representative Bigelow's primary
bill and school code both get a chance
at being heard on the floor of tn
honse by their being reported favor
ably BY the committee. The latter /!
made imperative until after the SEES
sion OF the Legislature OF 1913, in ordei
that it might receive full considera
ton by the people.
,
AoeGdeen-The benefits o. system
attic saving is strikingiy illustral
ed in the case of the school chill
dren of Big Stone, S. D.. a town o
500 O.. GOO peenle. Five O. SIX year;
a ago Gold & Co., the Big Stone bank
ers, presented the school children o
the town with small iron saving bank
and encouraged them TO star, say
;ng account at the bank. Now tn
sa Wings accounts of the children of thu
town aggregate over 1920. and thu
youthful depositors lave acquired til,
habits of saving which will prove
very profitable to them in the. year,
to come