The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-02-17
Public Utilities

Public Utilities
Senator George Wright has a 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 NAV 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 con-
struction and keep records of the cost.
When rate schedules are determined,
thy shall be recorded and the files
all times. This feature of publicity
it might be added, is in exact accord
with the we'll known views of former
Governor Folk of Missouri.
When a corporation charges
than the published rate, they win
have violated the law and are subject
to penalty.
ANY reliable mercantile or manu-
featuring society or any body Of TWEEN
ty-flve or nor persons may render
complaint to the commission, 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
iustifable, 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 menu
bers of the senate.
Representative Serman's House Bill
No. IL, is having a hard time getting
out of the committee without being
loaded down with amendments, but
there is hope of its escaping. The bill
provides for the incorporation of cities
under commission. Objection has been
raised to the idea of having the com
mission revoke the licenses of saloons.
Certain persons, it seems, would pre-
fer to have this done by process OF
law, which would mea the loss OF
weeks and possibly months in the
The supreme court has made
rulings which grant the municipalities
the power to revoke licenses without
carrying the matter into the courts.
Regarding salaries, 1t has been sng-
gested that they be arranged on a
percentage basis. The objection 10
this plan Is that certain commission
ers, on account OF certain duties might
receive much larger salaries than 9TH
ers that have equal responsibilities.
Following out their suggestions in
the Soldiers Home report the mem
bers OF the investigating committee
have introduced a bill In both houses,
calling for a board of control, consist
ing OF three members. for the home.
The head of the institution would be
known as superintendent. and ne,ff er
he nor the board members need be
old soldiers. Military discipline would
be dispensed with and provision Is
made that disabled soldiers of the
Philippine instruction can become
inmates, as we'll as veterans OF the
other wars.
Representative Bigelow's primary
bill and school code both get a chance
at being heard on the floor OF the
house by their being reported favor
ably by the committee. The latter is
made imperative until after the ses-
sion of the legislature OF 1913, In order
that It might receive full considera-
ton by the people.