The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-04-25
UTILITIES HEARING
Business Men For Regulation Of
Telephone Corporations.
FAVOR MERGING OF COMPANIES


Before the Senate Committee In
Charge Of the Utilities Measure.
Columbus, Especial. THE con.
Bumer of the product of public util.
tiles, and particularly the telephone
subscriber, had great deal to
say at the public hearing on the
utilities bill before the senate COM
mittee on railroads and telegraphs
Thursday night. The committee had
decided to hear the telephone COM
panies on that night and advertised
widely that the public would be given
q full hearing.
The representatives Of chambers Of
commerce and business men from all
parts OF the state were there, and
Chairman Dean gave them an oppor-
tunity OF being fully heard regarding
the telephone prnvis'ons Cf the utili-
ties bill. Among those who requested
to be heard and did speak in regard
to the matter were:
z. starbuck Smith, President Of the
Federated Improvement Associations
Of Cincinnati, who said: 81 represent
the Federated Improvement Associa-
tions, which Is composed Of 81 asso-
Citations in the city of Cincinnati-the
local Improvement association and
the federated associations Is made up
OF delegates from these local organ
izations, representing in all some
1000 individuals. The Federated I'M
provement associations have no polit-
ical purpose whatever. The people
In each neighborhood get together
and discuss local needs and the Fed
Grated Associations takes up the
larger questions of public concern,
questions that concern the city and
even The state.
"You have heard the representatives
OF the railroads, telephone, telegraph,
street railroads, interurbans and gas
and electric companies, but the peo-
pie have not yet been heard.
"The members of the senate realize
that, and that they are looking after
the interests Of the people.
81 want to talk very briefly and
want to read report addressed to
me as president of the Federated AS
Bociations by our law and legislative
committee. The report Ia sign by
Mr.. Frank Pocock. a well known at
torney of Cincinnati; j. Fl. Marck-
worth and Harry w. Bonnyfrock.
They suggest that telephone com.
panies and the like are necessary to
monopolies, and that the most eff
cient service comes through regula-
tlon, and not through competition.
Their operation coming through a
grant from the people, they are DEEM
ed to be subject to legislative enact
ments as to the manner OF conducting
their business the charges which
that the people may have the benefit
OF the highest efficiency and least
cost to tho citizens which may be
commensurate with reasonable and
proper profit to the companies upon
their legitimate investments.
'Laws of this character have been
In operation In many other states for
some years. notably In New York and
Wisconsin, and so far as we are ad-
vised with marked benefit 10 the pub
lie as well as to the operating tele-
phone companies themselves.
eve feel that IL the principle OF
regulation instead of competition Is
to bo the ruling principle OF the fu-
ture with reference to such enter
prises, IL Is better to enact this Into
law than to be practically without
any regulation with reference to utlli-
ties"
Mr.. Smith, continuing, suggested
the law as proposed the commission
could rot compel witnesses to speak
and produce payers,
Regarding the valuation OF property
OF utilities. Mr.. Smith said that In
making rates. the value of all the
property OF the public utility as actu-
ally used and useful for the convent
ence OF the public should be taken
into consideration.
Continuing. Mr.. Smith said: "T
wish had time to tell you some of
the experiences In other states where
public utility commissions have actu-
ally helped public utilities. II is a
case of fight now between the people
and ,he utilities. And II the people
have enough influence the public utll.
tiles are put out OF business, or vice
versa. We must have barriers for
protection Of the peoples rights. We
must have some safeguard like pub
lie utilities commission, which will be
made up of safe and Sane men and
who will see that both sides get their
rights, and only those rights to which
they ere entitled"
Hon. Cyrus Hullng, Columbus.
speaking for the Independent tele-
phone companies and their 10000
stockholders in the state, said:
'Tho telephone people are not here
Interested In this bill for or against
except as II concerns them. These
companies. which represent probably
the second largest interest In money