The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-02-04
SPECIAL MESSAGE sent 81.
BY GOVERNOR GLASSCOCK

CHARLESTON. FEB. i-Governol
William L. Glasscqck yesterday sen
tho following, message TO he eggs.
ture. This Is the second Sp ial m
sage to this session. In this he lay
spectal stress on what he believes I.
dc the most important measures BE-
fore the legislature, and CirIodies ii
it;.considerable statistical information
~ the Members Of the Senate an[
House Of Delegates,
The regulation Of public utility com
papies Is accepted today as a safe
and sane governmental policy. Blu
ii was not always so. !. has only 3eei
alg@ years since those who eoHtenc
etl' FOR measures Of this character wcl
denounced as extremists and som
times as enemies OF constitution.
government. The change with r.
spect to this matter illustrates cleari
the progressive tendencies of the pee
Die Of this country. The cause OF the
change was mainly the abuse OF right,
and privileges that had been granite
by the people.to those engaged in i
public service business, and this abus'
OF mower did not always produce tlnan
cial returns to those interested in tn
public service corporations. indeed
ii is incontrovertible that public sci
4 vice corporations are doing NOR
profitable business today under stau
tory regulations than they did 2rlo
to the time OF the enactment OF rC2en
statutes. The railroad companies ar
doing a more profitable business no.
than they did few years ago an
this is reflected In the market valu
of their stocks and bonds. 1t Is no
only true as to interstate ratlroa
companies, but 1t is likewise true
TO intrastate companies where publ
utility commissions have been crea'
ed. | believe the records will shoN
that In every State Of the Union wher'
public service commissions, or public
utility commissions have been Great
cd. that the business regulated by thu
law OF that State is more prosperous
and on a sounder financial footing
than 1t was prior to the time Of tho
creation OF such a commission. be.
lfeve this is true without 4 single eX.
eeption and 1t is largely for that rea
son that the men responsible for the
management Of these corporations are
new pretty generally in favor OF hav
/, ing their business regulated by law
1t affords them protection that they
would not otherwise enjoy and re
lieves them OF responsibilities which
they do not care 10 assume.
There. are those who Will ADMIT the
facts above stated but who will claim
that there is no necessity for such a
commission in West Virginia. They
soy that our public service corpora
tons are not doing sufficient amount
OF business that is not regulated ~
the Federal statutes to warrant us in
creating commission that will only
have to do with intrastate business
i am Of the opoinion that those who
are sincere in their opposition to this
much needed legislation have not
made a careful study OF the number
Of public service corporations and the
amount and character Of business done
by them in this State. And it is be-
cause desire to give tho legislature
ali the information obtainable upon
this subject that l requested State Tax
Commissioner Blue to furnish me con
densed statistics relating to public
service corporations doing business in
this State, and am appending to this
message copy OF his report.
i hope that every member Of the
legislature will carefully read and di
gest this report because | consider II
one CT vital Importance for many rea
sons and especially valuable to yor
at this time when you aTa consider