Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-02-15
HOME RULE COMMISSION


There is pending in the Texas Legislature
bill which would provide State public utilities
commission that would have jurisdiction over the
various public utilities Of Texas cities including
electric light plants stree, car lines gas works
says the Dallas Times Herald AZ the same time
the Texas legislature is drafting the enabling act
TO make the home rule amendment to the constr
tuition operative The inconsistencies OF the two
measures are ireccncilsble
If we are to have home rule Of cities It should
not be hedged about with State commissions and
regulating bodies that have their offices a, the
State capital far away from the municipalities at
fected.
All OF the leading cities OF Texas have the
commission form of government With their OF
ficals rests the responsibility OF regulating pub
lie service corporations. the citizens themselves
have the charter right to do their own regulat-
ing One Of the cardinal principles OF the home
rule theory. we believe IS for each community
to say how its street lines shall be operated.
or us electric llRnt pldhls 'oHuu't'u
1t is very easy to appreciate the fact tina, "a
State commission consisting OF few men no
matter how capable, could not keep IN touch with
the local conditions in every city IN the State
They could not appreciate the wants and demands
Of the people OF each community They would
OF necessity, be forced to adopt rules and regula
tons that would appeal to their Individual judg
ment or private fancy Every time a citizen had
grievance against a public service corporation
he would be forced to take trip to Austin or
wait weeks and perhaps months until the State
commission. in it's jaunts over the State. could
pay visit to his home city. Then appearing be
fore the august body the citizen would be forced
to say: Although this public service corporation
uses my streets and profits by my patronage !
come to you, oh, my guardians and beg tina, you
do tina, which ! should have the right to do for
myself on my own property.
Austin is the seat OF the State government.
ment, and the city hall is the home of the tribunal
that rules the municipality Each administration
has ITS place and its proper relation to the others.
In purely local affairs the State government has
no right to interfere long as the people OF a
community conduct themselves in a manner tina,
does not endanger the administration of the larg-
er affairs OF the commonwealth Regulation Of
street transfers in Dallas has not the remotest
effect on the affairs of Fl Paso Fixing the rate
for gas IN Waco could not in the least interest
the people OF Houston Each of these cities has
ITS own popular government and its citizens al
ready have the right to define their policies to-
ward public service corporations Recently the
people OF Texas voted a constitutional amendment
strengthening this right It is quite plain that the
purposed public utilities commission is entirely out
OF sympathy with the people and the times
II the commission idea is adopted by the legis-
laturc the home rule amendment to the cons,i,u
ton should be torn to shreds by the lawmakers
and thrown IN the faces of the CITIZENSHIP Of Texss