Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-02
special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican-
Des Moines, Feb. 2.-When the
senatocship is eliminated the big fight
Of this legislative session is to be the
fight Of the public utilities companies
to prevent having to report as to their
earnings to city councils when rates
are to be fixed and already there Is a
powerful lobby in Des Moines working
for the Sammis bill which would create
a public utilities commission at an ex-
pense Of 100000 to $4,000 per year.
which would take away from cities
every vestige Of control over gas. cleo
trio light, power water and street rail-
way companies and even set UP bar
as to municipal ownership of any
utility except by consent of the state
hearing before the senate committee
Thursday. Feb 8.
The Purposes Of Each.
At the present time it is apparent
that one Of the subjects which will re-
ceive possibly the most prominent
consideration in the present general
assembly will be the public utility
problem as it now concerns the people
of the state. Three bills are now pend
ing before the senate which give ex-
preston to the line of contest that
seems destined to form the subject Of
conflict.
A bill introduced by Senator Sulli-
van, Of Des Moines, has for its object
the inclusion of local telephones and
street railways among the utilities as
to which city councils may now fix the
rates for charges and prescribe regula-
tons The law as it stands empowers
i1i4 thia ia fly charges
or rates for gas, heat, light, water and
power The difficulty experienced by
city council under the law as 1t
stands at the present time, when it I'M
dertakes to exercise this authority, is
to a ascertain the facts upon upon which
ii must act Under the limitations fix
ed by law, any rate fixed or regulation
established must be reasonable. When
ever any city council undertakes to
exercise Its present power in these mat
tiers, it is quite the practice. if not the
uniform rule of local utility concerns
! TO refuse any Information az to the
material facts upon which a council
must act.
The Van Law Bill.
The bill introduced by Senator Van
! Law has for its object the institution
| Oh d ulSdllS VI pAoS0So VaSASOJ SeeS
councils may come into the possession
of such facts as are necessary for them
to know in attempting to discharge the
Official duty now imposed upon them
by the law as it stands at the present
time. To effect this result he has pro.
| posed in the bill introduced by him
Into the senate, to require annual re-
ports from all utility concerns, such re.
ports to be filed by utility concern.
with the city clerk OF the city or towr
in which such concern operates. which
annual report will disclose various ma
terial facts in connection with the op'
Grafton Of such plants.
The bill further proposes that wheT
any city or town council has deter
mined to undertake to fix a new rat,
or pass any new regulation. that sucl
council shall be permitted to inspsc
the books and papers Of the utility con
Germ affected. visit the plant and inter
rogate the agents. employees and officer
- s,,eh plant with reference to tn,
operation thereof. Should. however. an,
such utility concern refuse to allow
such inspection or to di0cIoss any fact
asked for by the city council In IL
procedure under the statute. It u pro
posed that such city or town may max
application to a Judge Of the distric
L court within whose district such ct,