The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-04-10
sammis Bill on Public Utilities Hav-
ing Been Defeated in Senate
He Urges an Investi-
cation Made.
PROBABLY GO THROUGH
Two Years to be Allowed for the Conn
mittee to Make its Findings
and Then Report to Next
Legislature.

DES MONIES, April 10.-Sometime
today Senator j. U. Sammis will call
up for consideration by the senate the
resolution he introduced Saturday di-
recting the appropriations committee
to prepare and report bill providing
the appointment of commission TO
study during the next two years the
question Of control of public utilities
and report to the next general assem-
bly, law suited to meet the require
ments of existing conditions in Iowa.
That such commission would be
heartily supported was demonstrated
on the floor of the senate Saturday
Senator Van Law of Marshall county
who opposed the Crist-Sammis Pub
lie Utility bill explained on the hoor
Saturday that he was not opposed 10
the general proposition of control oI
public utilities and introduced reso--
luton proposing an appropriation ior
commission to study the question
/ Immediately there was some diner
4 ence of opinion over the amount OF
/ the appropriation and Senator Sammls
moved substitute resolution to dl-
rect the appropriations committee 10
prepare bill and report it for pas
sage. This resolution went over un-
der the rule for consideration today.
II this carries and there is consider
able prospect Of it and the appropria-
tions committee reports a bill prompt
ly it will probably go through no'n
houses with rapidity.
That members OF the legislature.
who have not familiarized themselves
with the expert questions Of operating
EXPENSES of utility plants and rates,
: are not in position to judge the best
kind of a law is freely confessed and
If is thought commission would be
able in two years to evolve law that
would meet every demand in Iowa
at legislators too often have dlsplayeu
an ignorance or disregard OF exlsting
laws spreading the idea that new leg
islation was a cureall for any undeslr-
able condition, while it was often only
!, a political play, and the enforcement
:. of the existing laws was utterly DIS
regarded" recently said Theodore n,
n Vail IN QlSCuSSAS luS va eeiihe!
: nuhlic control of corporations. IL Is
q beleieved q commission could study
!, the matters out and draft measure
Il that would have general support tWo
q wears hence. This commission wouio
a probably be appointed by the presl
v dent of the senate and would be com
a nosed of members OF the present leg
:, islature, The control of pubic utlll
ties is one of the largest problems
# confronting the people today, accord
! ing to the expressed opinion OF mum
70 erous senators The great thing tina
.. should he condemned, prevented ane
is punished. they say is the abuse MADE
of corporate machinery to the detri
ID ment of public welfare and suci
II abuse as has been and is being prae
N ticed so extensively for purely spec
~ ulatiye and oft times swindling enter
IL prises.
While 1t was suggested In Va
Laws resolution that the investlga
tion commission be composed of 81
members the resolution as it noN
- stands before the senate leaves tn
number of members as we'll as tn
ao appropriation for their use who'll
with te appropriations committe
which if directed, will prepare tn
bill