The Ely miner., 1913-08-22

raised to the Control or such utilities
to the extent Of enforcing proper uni
form accounting and the furnishing OF
reports:
4. Service, Rates and Returns
The uniformity in service, rates and
returns Of similar public utilities
through the state, as far as the local
differences in the cost of operation
will permit, is desirable, no one will
question, and it Is dificult to see how
any one can consistently advocate
any other method of securing such
uniformity than by state regulation.
RELATION BETWEEN STATE REG.
ULATIoN AND HOME RULE.
While the home rule" argument
has often been used to defeat state
regulation, there Is no valid reason
why the true home rule principle
should not be made effective in con-
nection with state regulation. If any
municipality should desire special or
additional service and is willing to
pay for it, such service should be
granted In the location of car barns,
power houses and other similar build
ings, If the municipality has reserved
certain sections for such purposes, 1t
should have right to enforce such
regulations in all cases. Oftentimes
in the granting of franchises and cost
ly extensions of service through
sparsely settled territory, it is desir-
able to secure an expression OF the
local sentiment in regard thereto, and
no state commission will disregard
such sentiment but rather seek its
provements are under consideration
for adoption, an expression of the SEN
timent in the community affected
thereby is not only desirable but often
necessary. Wherever the home rule
principle can be applied for the pur-
pose of securing service more suit
able to the need of the community in
question, it cannot in any way con-
tiict with proper state regulation, but
will on the other hand be a valuable
aid.
AS to the maintenance of separate
expert service and equipment for the
purpose of testing products, determin-
ing reasonableness of rates and max
ing valuations by the municipality, IT
is largely a question of economy. II
the local taxpayers are willing to i'm
pose this unnecessary burden upon
Al IL @ax Nf
ed thereby should not complain.
Whenever disputes arise under the
application of the home rule principle
between the municipality and the pub
lie utilities corporations, the state
commission must be the arbitrator
to the courts. 1t has been found by
experience, however, that the deci-
sions of state commissions have been
so uniformly thorough and fair that
few appeals to the courts have been
taken.
FORM AND SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES LAW.
This is a matter for the legislature
to solve. In my discussion l have
pointed out the essential elements of
the law, the details are not so i'm
portant. After having made a care
full study of the laws of other states,
I do not hesitate to state that the
Wisconsin law, with some modifica-
tions, that apply specially to our state,
is the best Under it Wisconsin has
successfully regulated its utilities,
and while instances of inequalities, in
ferior service and high rates can still
be found there, it's commission has
performed inestimable service for the
people of that state in improving serv-
ice, lowering rates, and establishing
uniformity in accounting and opera
ton.
Practically every state which in re-
utilities commission has followed the
Wisconsin plan and provided for an
appointive commission. Minnesota
formerly had an appointive railroad
and warehouse commission. When
Governor Lind was elected, the Repub-
lican legislature did not want him to
appoint the members of this COM
mission, and for that reason made
the commission elective. The Repub-
lican leaders in the legislature, who
succeeded in securing the passage of
this law, acted not in the interest OF
better service, but purely for politi-
cal expediency, in the hope that the
commission would select employees of
the Republican faith only and thus
strengthen the forces of the Repub-
lican organization. True, Minnesota
has been fortunate in the election of
good men on the railroad and ware
house commission, but that fact does
not right tho wrong nor justify its
continuance. Under the appointive
system, where the commissioners are
appointed for long period, the gov
ernor cannot change the entire board
except for proper cause shown upon
public hearing. This method insures
more stability and better service, be-
cause the commission can devote all
it's time to the service relieved from
the expense and troubles of political
campaigns and Independent of execu-
tive dictation.
Minnesota should profit by the ex-
perience of nearly all the other states
and make it's railroad and warehouse
commission appointive. Two more
commissioners should be added, max
ing five in all, its name changed to
the State Public Service Commis-
sion" and then be given the regula-
tion Of all state public utilities. This
arrangement would remove the OBJ