New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-09
SEEK MODEL LEGISLATION
Report on Municipal Utilities by
Civic Federation Almost Ready.
is A COMPREHENSIVE ONE
Investigation Has Exceeded Elk
pectations, It Is Said, and
Much Good Will Result.

Tho inquiry by the department. on resu'
latlons OF interstate and municipal utili-
ties Of the National Civic Federation is
nearing completion. The answers OF the
department are expected to be embodied
in model bill which may be USED ny
states which are about 10 adopt cofri-
prehensiye system OF regulation or 70
project a system heretofore established
The questions which have been unoer
consideration are: What constitutes soe-
ouate regulation OF public utilities! 10
what extent IS Il desirable or necessary
for the state to 20 IN regulating the SER
vice and charges OF railroads electric,
gas, telephone. telegraph, water and
other utilities IN order to protect and FUR
ther the rights OF consumers and or the
public and to preserve the rights OF the
companies?
The inquiry has extended throughout
the country, and included study OF
conditions peculiar 20 the English sys-
tenn of regulation. The investigation In
this direction was directed primarily TO
the application of the sliding scale prin-
ciple The sliding scale contemplates the
automatic adjustment OF the relations
between rates or charges TO consumers
Of public utility services and DIVIDEND
rates which are allowed TO the proprie-
tors OF public utility enterprises. Inc
sliding scale plan of regulation has peen
employed In the gas industry In Boston
for a number OF years. Particular at
tention was also given in the Enghsh
investigation to methods employed TOT
regulation OF capital issues by puohc
service enterprises and to the puDhc
audit OF the companies The plan OF
selling stock at auction was examined
in detail. Much OF this information VIII
be used In working out corresponding
problems here.
The result OF court decisions and the
findings OF public investigating commit
tees have been gone into, and a super
fetal examination Of the laws OF some
Of the states serves 10 indicate how conn
nletely wise and wholesome principles
have been overlooked. In a NUMBER oil
states the pendulum has swung 100 iar
in enc direction: In others II mas gone
equal distances I'm other directions.
AS rapIdly as preliminary drafts OF
the several divisions OF the compilation
and analysis have been completed they
have been printed and sent TO all OF the
commissions Of the country. Members OF
the commissions have been urged 10 OK
anime the references 10 the laws or their
own state and to acquaint tho depart
ment OF changes required 10 be made IN
order accurately TO represent the Stua-
ton in their jurisdictions. These di-
visions have also been sent 10 other IN
terested persons for suggestion and cfu-
clsm.
Following the preliminary work on the
compilation and analysis, model sections
on each OF the divisions OF the statutory
material have been prepared by the IN
vestgaion staf. These have been sub
mitted In the FIRST instance TO the several
committees OF the department represent
cd IN the executive council, and. sec
ondarlly. 10 the members and officers of
railroad and public service commissions
and other interested persons. Again,
criticism and suggestion In detail were
invited.