The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-10-17
Conclusion Drawn BY Mr.. Cray
Before Social Science
PUBLIC UTILITIES PROBLEM
Careful Regulation Rather Than Actual
Control: FIN Currier Believes
In City Ownership

THE safest way to deal with public
utilities is to foster private owner
ship, and adopt a system of careful
regulation as distinguished from ac-
tual control" said Judge Lorln Cray
at a meeting of the Social Science
club last night. Judge Cray read a
paper on state and Municipal Own
rrship of Public Utilities, and the
above statement is the summary of
his opinion. He suggested number
of the problems which would come
up as soon as such thing was at
tempted and said:' IF municipalities
are TO assume ownership of our
ear lines, light works., telephones,
messenger service, water and heat
ing plants, it is but a short step
from such as these to butcher shops,
dairies. creamcries, groceries, black
smith shops and so forth, without
end, because the output Of all of
these may we'll be classed as public
necessities, and therefore should be
subject to public ownership and con-
troll.
The Beginning and Ending.
IF municipalities are to assume
ownership and control of public
utilities for the protection of the
people where should such ownership
begin and end?" Judge Cray be-
lieyes that If municipalities have con-
troll of these utilities that there is
the inclination to have men in
charge of them who are qualified for
the positions by reason of their politi-
cal affiliations rather than the ac-
tual fitness for the work. His paper
indicated that he was not i'll favor
of promiscuous public ownership of
such utilities, but that fairness
should and could be demanded in
such matters.
Would Have Public Ownership.
F. NJ. Currier led the discussion
and said: ut seems to me that the
wise thing TO do is to regulate by
national state and municipal laws
everything in the way of service
that by its nature, is monopolistic,
and which is necessary to the hap
piness and we'll being of the people,
and if this fails, then we must have
public ownership"
Mr.. Currier gave two reasons for
this conclusion. The first was that
human nature has so far demon
strated that a few men cannot be
trusted to follow the golden rule
when vested with monopoly rights.
but that they will charge all that
traffic will bear, for private gain.
The other reason is that all people
are so selfish and suspicious that
no matter how fairly, economically
and well corporation or individual
operates any public utility, they
never could make the public believe
that it was getting a square deal.
Discussion Was Lively.
In the discussion that followed the
reading of the papers the Consumers
Power company came in for attention
The sentiments were largely in favor
of the investigation that is now be-
ing conducted. The discussion lag
ged a bit till DR.. j. w. Andrews sug-
gested that private ownership OF the
city waterworks would be a good
thing and from that time on there
was some lively discussion. Judge
w. +. Hughes did not want any pri-
vate concern to get hold OF the water
works, saying that the city water is
now good water and he wanted to
find a city that had worse gas.
The greater part of the members
were in favor of a state control
rather than municipal control, as
the municipal control placed a cor.
poration under the supervision of too
many committees rather than enc
central committee.
Called on The State.
George VI. Palmer pointed to the
fact that at the time of the typhoid
epidemic the city was very glad to
call to the state for aid and felt
that the state was better equipped to
handle problems of vast Importance
han were the different cities.
w. ID. Willard said that different
localities have different conditions
and for hat reason cities like Mime
apolis did not like to have a state
board debating to them concerning
the utilities of their own city. This
city felt that they realized their own
conditions and needs better than a
state board could.
Among the other members that
made remarks and offered sugges-
lions we're Al. Veigel, ]. r. Brand
rup and DIR. C. ]. Holman. Judge
Lorin Cray closed the discussion.