Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-08-20


ia e tsngiosn & !. ll serYice through
f6pafSely settled territo ]. it IS desir
able g secure m expression 81 the
local ntiment ID regard thereto, and
no state commission will disregard
such enkiment but 'ather seek It's
guidance. Whore new important i'm.
prpyements are under consid eration.
tor adoption, an expression ots the sem
timent In the community affected
thereby 10 not only desirable but often
Necessary. NhereYer5 the home rule
principle can be applied for the pur.
pose Of securing service. more suit
able to the need Of the community il
question, It cannot III any way con-
fiict with proper state regulation, but
will on the other hand be 4 valuable
aid.
AS to the maintenance Of separate
expert service and equipment for the
purpose Of testing products. determin-
ing reasonableness Of rates and max
Ing valuations by the municipality. it
ts largely a question OF economy. II
the local taxpayers are willing to Inn
pose this unnecessary burden upon
themselves, the taxpayers not affect
ed thereby should not complain.
Whenever disputes arise under the.
application Of the home rule principle
between the municipality and the pub.
lie utilities corporations, the state
commission must be the arbitrator
subject, as in all cases, to an appeal.
to the courts. It has been found by
experience, however, that the deci-
sions Of state commissions have been
SO uniformly thorough and fair that
few appeals to the courts have been
taken. zz55s .-.ss=s, +. ;,
FORM AND SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC
s UTILITIES LAW.
This is q matter for the legislature
to solve. In my discussion / have
pointed out the essential elements OF
the law, the details are not so Inn
portant fter having made q care,
full study of the laws of other states,
I do not hesitate to state that the
Wisconsin law, with some modifica-
tons. that apply specially to our state,
IL the best. Under it Wisconsin has
successfully regulated it's utilities,
and while instances Of inequalities, In
ferior service and high rates can still
be found there, its commission has
performed inestimable service for the.
people of that state in improving serv-
ice. lowering rates, and establishing
uniformity in accounting and opera
ton. p g-@@z 49,. -. 8 :..- = = .zE
Practically every state which In re-
cent years has established public
utilities commission has followed the
Wisconsin plan and provided for an
appointive commission. Minnesota
formerly had an appointive railroad
and warehouse commission. When
Governor Lind was elected, the Repub-
licail legislature did not want him to
appoint the members of this COM
mission, and for that reason made
the commission elective. The Repub.
lican leaders in the legislature, who
succeeded In securing the, passage OF
this law, acted not in the interest OF
better service, but purely for politi-
cal expediency, In the hope that the
commission would select employees Of
the Republican faith only and thus
strengthen the forces of the Repub-
lican organization. True, Minnesota
has been fortunate In the election of
good men on the railroad and ware
house commission, but that fact does
not right the wrong nor Justify its
continuance. Under the appointive
system, where the commissioners ara
appointed for long period, the gov
ernor cannot change the entire board
except for proper cause shown upon
public hearing. This method insures
more stability and better service. be-
cause the commission can devote al
its time to the service relieved from
the expense and troubles Of. political
campaigns and Independent OF execu-
tive dictation. - .. III
Minnesota should profit by the ex-
perience Of nearly all the other states
and make Its railroad and warehouse
commission appointive. Two more
commissioners should be added, max
the Estate Public Service Commits
sion" and then be given the regula-
ton of all state public utilities. This
arrangement would remove the OBJ
| jections raised against two public
utilities commissions and would al
ways secure to the state an expe-
rienced working majority Of commits
sioners. They should be appointed
at a higher salary for a longer term,
and their employees should be placed
under strict civil service.
I am we'll aware that some Of my
enemies will not let me make these
appointments If they can help it. It
must not be forgotten, however. that
their objections are not made in coed
faith. The character of my past APP
pointments furnish the only standard
by which should be Judged, and I
am perfectly willing to- submit this
question to the people upon that. rec
ord. Should I so far forget myself
and my duty to the state as to ap.
point on such an important commits
sion men of inferior qualities or men
under the control OF any interest in
this state or make such appointments
as reward for political services, l
| earnestly hope, and now request, that
may be made the first example Of
the recall now before the people for
adoption at the next election. Let us
be frank about this matter. My: po-
litical enemies are not at all afrntd
that shall end my political career