Our land = La Nostra terra. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 191?-1913, 1913-04-12
MADISON NEWS

Madison. Wis, April Special -- The
highest efficiency in public service by
railroads and other common carries is
made more certain, it is claimed, by
passage Of bill. introduced by Assem-
blyman Fred l.. Holmes, giving to the
Wisconsin Rate Commission the autho-
rity to order the joint use of tracks by
street car, interurban and steam COM
panias
The new law is but another step in
the progressive program, inaugerated
years ago by Senator La Toilette, to
make plbis utilities serve the public
in the best possible manner.
The new law is of much broader
scope taan appears On its face. With
traction exp IS already predicting
taat t4is state will soo1, be a net work
OF interurb an lines - the same as IS
nav the case in Ohio. Indiana and Hi
nJis- tie placing Of authority insur-
ing the highest degree of good service
is by no means an unimportant matter.
A = nlitiJ IN that might arise in this
st4.e is a good Illustration Of how the
creation Of this new authority for the
= Commission will work for the public
good.
The Sioux. or old Wisconsin Central
road, at present enters Milwaukee over
the lines of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul using the latter com
panys terminal and switching tracks
under a lease. Conditions are such that
obstacle might be encountered if the
Sioux sought to install a terminal of
its own there. In the event difficulties
arose between the two companies that
resulted in the refusal of the Z. M. q
St Paul to renew the lease, the SER
vice of the Sioux would be badly crippl
ed and inefficient to the many people
along its route. If such condition
should arise by virtue of the new law
the rate commission could compel the
Joint use of tracks if necessity demand
ed.
The same conditions apply to interur-
ban and city roads. In most CT ties the
car companies are operating under long
franchises which include the exclusive
rights to tracks on the principal streets
An interurban wishing to enter city
might have trouble in making deal
with the local utility for use of neces-
sary tracks to reach a desirable tremi-
nal. Again if public service demands
the rate commission may order joint
use of tracks.
A measure against which there is
more opposition is that of assemblyman
Vint. His bill proposes to take from
the Rate Commission the authority to
regulate street railways and to give
tHat power to the municipality. 1t has
been pointed out that the power TO re-
gulate companies operating under city
franchises has never been taken from
the cities - although it has seldom, if
ever. been exercised. Under the exist
ing law cities may regulate the utili-
ties and compel compliance with any
order issued by the council. Appeal,
where, may be taken to the rate COM
mission.
When the bill was up for hearing re-
Gently, many appeared against the
measure, among them being Cen
Corcroan, president of the Milwaukee
common council. He cites numerous
cases that have arisen in Milwaukee to
ntsve that regulation of = ..s utility
nv council is almost an impossible
task. Local politics, he says, so fire.
ouently entered the question that the
real issue Of good public service was
often obscure. It was also pointed out
during the argument that in Milwau-
hoe. where complaints against the trac
r! tion company are continuous and nu-
,,,erous. the council has never taken q
stem to better the service. The rate
commission, on the other hand, has
been appealed to upon numerous oc-
casons.