The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-04-26

Ter, schaller, Sullivan, J. D., Van Ho-
ven, Weiss and Works. They ought
to be ashamed Of themselves.
Governor Is '.Elated."
Governor Eberhart pretends that
he is so elated over his victory" in
the senate that he is now making
preparations to call special session
Of the legislature to pass a statewide
public utilities commission BILL.
In the meantime, the friends Of
municipal ownership are busy laying
their plans to not only oppose the
governors program. but If he should
use undue influence upon members
of the legislature to get them to vote
for public utilities commission bill,
they will see that the bill is SO strong
~ amended it will thwart the purpose
of the public service corporations in
seeking refuge behind such a meas
ure.
The special interests have only re-
Gently taken up the idea Of a public
utilities commission. Formerly they
sought refuge and protection in the
courts, but they have been subject
severe reverses Of late in the courts.
and now they are using their influence
in state politics to have a new institu
ton created that will harbor and pro-
tect them from the onslaughts Of the
people.
Where Cities Are Jealous.
No one seriously objects to a state
wide public utilities commission that
will have authority over corporations
doing an interurban business, but the
people Of the cities Of Minnesota are
extremely jealous Of their rights and
they will most strongly oppose any
attack upon the part Of the governor
and the legislature to take from them
the right to have the whole say about
the regulation of public utilities oper-
ating wholly within the limits of tho
city.
This is the crucial issue. If the
people of the cities are given more
power over their own affairs than
they have heretofore enjoyed, they
will become as conspicuous examples
Of good administration in the future
as they have been bad in the past.
In some states like Ohio and Mich
igan public utility commissions have
become the sheltering place of vested
>-~~~~ ~0S91
franchises and to grant to utilities
that there will be no competition.
The rights of the people have been
secondary to the so-called vested in
terests of the utility companies.
Wear People Out.
Applications for new charges have
been permitted to drag until the peo-
pie We're worn out. Old companies
have refused to make necessary i'm
provements or increase their service.
because the commission paid too
much heed to their cries against "con-
f1scation.''
There are several motives back of
a utilities commission. One motive
Is that through state regulation we
will soon come into state ownership.
The belief being that regulation will
be a. failure anu nothing short of
ownership will meet the require
ments.
There is another reason why the
utilities commission is favored, land
that Is the owners Of utilities hope to
control the commissions. They have
done that in some states. They, no
doubt. will aim to own the commits
sion in Minnesota If one should be
created. 1t must be remembered that
a commission appointed by the gov
ernor will not be subject to recall by
the people.
Governor Barters Votes.
In Minneapolis the other night at a
protest meeting held under the aus
pices Of the Voters league, a univer-
sity professor stated to the people
that member of the house of repre-
sentatives from Ottertail county was
Influenced to vote to sustain Governor
Eberhart's veto under promise that he
would be appointed to a. vacancy on
the district bench of his home coun-
ty in the near future.
E.. E. Smith, Governor Eberhart's
political manager, and the represen-
tative Of the public service corpoya-
tions in lobbying for legislation. used
his personal influence in the open to
defeat the Nolan and Minnette bills.
If the members Of the legislature
who now oppose a statewide public
utilities commission, such as is wanted
by Governor Eberhart and his friends.
stand pat, they can succeed in ,thwart-
ing the purpose of the public service
corporations of this state who are.
we verify believe, being driven to the
last ditch in tho strngplo ~ 49,. ~.