The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-08-30
SENATOR eastman j.
FAv0RS HOME. rule.
Prefers Local Control of Public
Utilities-Wants Physical !
Telephone Connections. s@,:

On this question of control OF
public utilities I think one feature
that is vital is physical connection,
of telephones. There is no greater
tax upon the people of the small
cities of the state than having to use
two telephones simply because at
present one system will not connect
with another" !? =
That's the way. Senator Thomas E.
eastman of Steele county, the dis
lance tariff" legislator from Ovation
ma, who was a visitor in Duluth DUR
ing the week, opened up a general
survey on the question of control Of
public utilities. =. %+
"Generally speaking he continued
II do not favor state control of utili-
ties operated wholly within a NUM-
c1panty. AS for these utilities the
operations of which extend through
out a municipal corporation and into
territory adjacent. I would favor
reasonable state control, that con-
troll to set in when the people served
by such utility believe they are not
getting a square DEAL. -.
No New Commission.
II do not favor the creation of a
new state commission, we have enough
state commissions now. I believe
whatever legislation the state gets
relative to public utilities control
should center the responsibility in
some body now existing-the railroad
and warehouse commission or the
state tax commission, preferably.
ITO have absolute power over the
public utilities of the state vest in
commission of three or five men
l do not approve. l do believe, how
ever, that it is in the public interest
that the state should have a body to-
which aggrieved public utility patrons
may protest rates or poor SERVICE
this body as I have said to be one
already existing. Moreover, where the
people of a city, in which a utility
operates wholly within it's limits, find
that the service they are getting is
unsatisfaetory-be it traction, lighting
or otherwise-they should have the
right to protest and have conditions
rlghted just as much as the people
who patronize a utility which oper-
ates' beyond the boundaries of city.
Believes in Home Rule.
Il am a strong believer in home
rule. I think the people Of a village
or a city can usually attend to their
own affairs. But when they find they
cannot make Roadway against a pub
lie utility corporation, then let them
have the right to: appeal to a state
body. Let. this body have reason
able powers. Lett have, above all,
when protest is' received, the right
to make asphysical valuation of the
utility and base it's: ruling as to an
equitable rate. >upon, such valuation.
tits hard to say just what one
will do about a. piece of legislation
until it is on lawmakers desk. 1
do not know just the kind of a bill
the advocates of state control of util-
tiles will put before the senate and
house at the extraordinary session.
Il still contend that such a bill
should include a provision for the
physical connection of all telephone
systems of the state. The people are
demanding it. I am heartily in favor
Of such a regulation for telephone
companies.
But as for creating a new COM
mission with plenary powers over the
utility corporations of the state, the
members of the commission to be ap-
pointed by the governor, that is Leg
islation I cannot as a general propo-
sltlon favor. My adherence to the
principle of home rule would prevent,
except in the measure that the COM
munities Of the state could benefit
through kind of appeal board after
they had exhausted every local
remedy"