The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-02

gressive Administrations was the sub
ject of an address by Senator LaFol-
lette in this city yesterday The
speaker said that progressive legisla-
ton in Wisconsin has not been de-
structive, as its enemies predicted.
Instead said he, "of driving CAPT.
tai out of the state, it has attracted
capital more than other states. 1t has
made investment safe for all, instead
of speculative for a few It has been
conservative and constructive as well
as progressive. Not one of these
progressive laws has been overturned
by the supreme court of the state and
not one has been carried into the fed
eral courts
Continuing, Senator LaFollette said:
THE general business conditions in
Wisconsin conclusively show that in
stead of being retarded by progressive
legislation, Wisconsin has advanced
financially and commercially more
rapidly than the country taken as a
whole.
I'm ten years of progressive 1egisla-
ton, the expenses of the state have in
creased. but the burden of taxes upon
the people has decreased. The prop
erty of the state is paying 81 per cent
less taxes in proportion to its value
than it did ten years ago."
Going into details of the results ac-
complished, the speaker said: HAY
ing brought the steam railroads OF
Wis nsin under state control we pro-
ceeded to extend the control of the
railroad commission over all the other
public utilities in the commonwealth.
For the year 1910, compared with
1909, Notwithstanding reductions in
rates and improvement in services, the
water utilities increased their net
earnings los per cent, the telephone
utilities SIS per cent, the gas utilities
TT per cent and electric utilities 27.5
per cent Those utilities have even ex-
ceeded the railroads in the rate at
which they have made cash invest
ments in new construction.
'-An of this remarkable develop
ment has gone steadily forward not
withstanding the railroad commission
has -duced the rates charged in the
state by public utilities II million dol
lars a year, and has required improve
costing those public utilities $125,00O
total saving to the consumers of gas,
water and electricity of $4,000 a
year. And this is only the beginning.
lone example will show the meth
DDS and results attained by the com
mission in it's control of public utili-
ties. In April, 1910, following two
years of careful investigation, the rail-
road commission, after improving the
quality of service, reduced the maxi
Madison from sixteen to fourteen cents
per kilOwat hour, and adjusted the
other rates on a lower basis. The re-
suit was that the sales of electricity
increased 16 per cent, the net earnings
increased "a per cent, the company in
creased its investment % per cent and
the savings to the consumers. compar-
ing the new rates with the old rates,
was S1S.3OS a year.
I'm July, 1911, fifteen months later,
after such an increase in profits fol-
lowing the reduction of rates. the
company accepted without protest an
other reduction to twelve cents; this
made a reduction from sixteen to
twelve cents per kilowat hour. or a
reduction of % per cent in rates to
consumers.
''Thus the state commission is dem
onstrating the value of it's supervision
and control. not only to the public,
but to the business of the corporation,
as we'll. Wisconsin is teaching the les
son that both the people and the in
vestors in public utilities may be bene-
fitted by our system of regulation"
Has Nothing to Say.
Saginaw, Mich. Jan. 2.-After his
address here, Senator LaFollette was
told of the action taken by the pro-
gressive Republicans at Columbus. He
declined to make any comment.
As PinchOt Sees 1t.
Delaware, O., jan Clifford Pin
chot addressed a large audience here
last night. Mr. Pinchot declared that
while Senator IaFoIette, whose nOmi-
nation he advocated, might not be
nominated he believed the progress
sives had gained such ground that they
would be a controlling factor in the
coming national convention.