The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1913-03-14
MINNESOTA PLAN FOR REGULATION.

A. O. Eberhart reelected last November as gov
of Minnesota is among the public officials who
believe that enlightened public sentiment is tending to-
wards reasonable regulation of public utilities rather
than public ownership and that state regulation the
more wise and practicable plan from the standpoint
of the public In his inaugural message delivered
GENTLY Governor Eberhart declared positively in favor
Of regulation by statewide commission preferable
to either public ownership local control by muncip
aties The fact that Mr. Eberhart already has served
one term in the office of governor of his state gives
added force his argument and added Importance to
his views this subject.
ssIn my opinion public utilities must be either
owned or controlled by the people, said Mr. Eberhart
in his inaugural address, Where control can be vested
in fair impartial and competent authority, removed
as far as possible from political influence it is far
peror to ownership 1t has been found by experience
that it is very difficult to keep municipality owned
plants out Of politics As general principle it is true
that the state or the city should not go into any busi
ness which can be transacted well by individuals
In the case of public utilities the selfish greed OF hu-
man often takes advantage of the peoples
dependence to demand excessive rates grant unfair
discrimination between localities and individuals
Even municipality owned public utilities are realizing
now the necessity Of statewide regulation and strong
demand for such regulation from producers and
consumers alike throughout the state.
'Owing to local conditions and influences, it is i'm
possible for local commissions to be successful In
their regulation Of these utilities statewide com
mission The regulating authority and the regulated
are too closely related and dependent upon local con-
ditions and it is almost impossible be impartial and
fair"
Minnesota is one of the numerous states in which
new laws for regulation of public utilities under
consideration and it's legislature is in session at the
present time public utilities bill has been introduced
by Senator Murray of eRnvlle county but it is ex-
pected that it will be amended in several important
particulars before it become law.
The bill provides for state public utilities COM
mission Of three members to be appointed by the gov
ernor at salaries of $4,000 each but present sentiment
appears to favor the idea of placing all of the public
utilities under supervision of the state railroad
mission whose jurisdiction includes only steam
railroads This is the plan that adopted in Wis
consin.
The Minnesota law as drawn would include
under state regulation all steam railroads. electric and
other traction railways of all classes canals express
service pipelines gas electric lighting, power, heat,
water OIL sewer telephone, telegraph, and all other
utilities in public ues
The bill is framed with the idea that the commits
sion shall act as court of appeal to which complaints
in regard to the rates or service Of public utilities may
be taken for adjudication but shall not have power to
direct the operation of any individual company 1t is
provided that the state supreme ocurt shall have full
power to review all acts of the commission.-Publc