Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-18

THERE is manifest reluctance on the ns~t OF many
4 Republican and Democratic members Of the pres
Legislature to do anything at this session either
TO strengthen the Of the Wilmington Public
Utilities Commission so It will be a commission in
fact as we'll as in name to create State Public
Utilities Commission that will have power to protect
the consuming, travelling and investing public against
excessive charge, service and waered securities.
That attitude by members of the Legislature is con-
strued that corporation influence has become
paramount TO public interest in the minds of many
Senators and Representatives in Dover. In fact, IL
apparently has become strong that the Democratic
members do not seem inclined TO urge. with vehe-
mence that characterize their attitude
toward other and less important matters the creation
Of state Public Utilities Commission. They
to forget that there exists IN the platform adoped
by the Democratic State Convention last Fall the fol-
lowing declaration
1--WE favor the creation Of State Utility Commits
sion. With full and ample powers to supervise the
public Abilities throughout the State that the rights
OF all our citizens may be safeguarded'
The Republicans are not bound by any such
equ,oca and ironclad declaration. The fact, how
that the Republican party placed on the statute
books two years the farcically inadequate Public
utilities law under which the existing Wilmington
commission has made vain efforts to work bcnehclaily
for the people would TO indicate that that party
deemed It to be its duty 10 do something TO quiet
public clamor FOR relief from the wrongs the people
IN this city felt they were suffering at the hands
state platform adopted last Fall the party evaded
the Public Utilities Commission question both with
respect 10 the city and State. The nearest the plat
form came to touching corporations was in the fol-
lowing declaration.
we are opposed to such consolidation. combination
merger OF public utility companies as will cause
oppression TO the people"
That such wdc-open pronouncement that Il
committed the Republican party TO nothing unless Il
were to pass state Antitrust law, which Il has not
done, or made any serious attempt to do.
II has been known for many months that the Public
Utilities law under which the Public Utilities Com
mission was created and has been endcavoring to
operate for the benefit OF the public is mere skee-
ton and that it is almost impossible for the COM
mission to do anything benehcaliy regulatve under
1t, either regards rates service It's weakness
has been demonstrated in court. the commissioners
have complained Of its inadeQuacy and the public has
demanded something better
Notwithstanding these facts the Republicans who
created both the law and the commission and the
Democrats, who are pledged to create State Public
Utisties Commission, and inferentiay to uphold the
local Public Utilities Commission have done moth
ing effective this session for the relief OF the public
The Wilmington commission has bill in the Lesls-
lature that was drawn TO make il potential regu-
iative and corrective force in our community That
bill has been held presumably by corporation In
huence. The indications that unless the people
OF Wilmington assert themselves, it will pass,
or il it does pass. that il will be in emascuiated
form. Both Republicans and Democrats seem to have
been uled by hypnotic influence into the belle;
that 1t will be better TO keep the Public Utilities Com
mission impotent and the people at the mercy OF
public service corporations, both rates and SER
vice, two years longer than disturb the serenity
Of certain corporations
The present Public Utilities Commission is useless
That is not because Il desires to be useless but he
cause certain corporations wish to keep useless and
prevent the public from enjoying the benefits tina,
oh nfSsion
proper Public Utilities law. Our commission car
issue orders, but it enforce them II can de
eide 10 make investigations. and finds the channel.
of Investigation closed TO IT, II decide for tn
protection of the investing and the general public
70 ascertain and make public the amount of waite
IN the securities of such corporations and the toll tina
IL being exacted from the public to make up the dyi
sends watered stocks and before it has gone fai
II finds itself up against a stone wall
In short through the shortcomings of our legsla
tors, certain public service corporations have tie
our Public Utilities Commissioners hand and foot an
held them up to the public evidence that publ
service corporations do not need regulation
words they have worked the game so we'll that III
commission, instead of regulating the public servlc
corporations is being regulated in all OF its actvite
by those corporations. Such a situation as that
unbearable to the public should be unbearabl
to the members Of the Legislature unless they hav
sunk deeply under the spell corporate hypnotsr
that they lost to all their duty to pub
lie.
The proposed amendment to the Public Utilities la,
follows the New Jersey law almost TO the letter S
far as it is applicable to this city. The only differ
ence is that the New Jersey law has to do with III
operations of State commission while the amend
ment sent to Dover has 10 do with a municipal com
mission. 1t has been less than two years since IN
people OF Wilmington clanoring for strip ticket
which had been of by one OF our local tracto
companies The OF the company was that
could hot continue to sell SIX tickets sor twcny-h,
cents and I've. The Public Utilities Commission wer