The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-08-30

system, where the commissioners are
appointed for . long period. the gov.
ernor cannot change the entire board
except for proper cause shown upon
pablo hearing. This method insures
more stability and better service. be.
cause the commission can devote all
1ts time to the service relieved from
the expense and troubles Of political
campaigns and INDEPENDENT Of execu,
tive dictation.
Minnesota should profit by the sx.
perience Of nearly all the other states
and make its railroad and warehouse
commission appointive. Two mors
commissioners should be added, max.
ing hve in all. ito name changed to
the "state Public Service Commits:
sion" and then be given the fegular
ton Of all state public utilities. This
arrangement would remove tho oh.
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 higher salary for q longer term.
and their employees should be placed
under strict civil service.
am we'll aware that some Of my
enemies will not let mo make these
appointments II they can help Il II
must not be forgotten, however. that
their objections are not made In good
faith. The character OF my past ap.
pointments furnish tho 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 90 far forget myself
and my duty to the state al 10 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. I
earnestly hope. and now request, that
I may be made the first example Of
the recall now before the people for
adoption at the next election. Let az
be frank about this matter. Ny 20
litical enemies are not at an afraid
that I shall end my political career
by making bad appointments ON the
public service commission. They
would not shed many bitter tsars II I
did. But they are afraid that shall
succeed in securing for Minnesota the
enactment of the most important and
truly progressive measure ever adopt
ed by this or any other state. and that
shall get some little share Of the
credit for its adoption.
EXPERIENCE OF OTHER STATES.
While large majority of the states
now have one or more important pub
lie utilities under state control, the
following states have all their utilt-
ties, or nearly so, regulated by q
state commission: Wisconsin, Massa-
chusetts, New York. New Jersey, Ne
vada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
Vermont, Washington, California and
Kansas. During the last six months
the following states have been added
to the list: Maine, Missouri, Ohio.
Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Many Of these states have followed
the Wisconsin law, adapting 1t to local
conditions. The experience Of Wis
consin can, therefore, be used % an
example. In addition to saving large
sums Of money in the operation Of the
various public utilities by uniform
accounting and statistical information.
the direct reduction of rates by the
Wisconsin commission amounts to
about $2,50O,O0O per year. 1t Is esti-
mated that in reduced rates and
economy of service the Wisconsin
commission has since its organization
made a net saving Of about $4,000 900
to the people Of that state. This 10
surely q most excellent record.
Objections have been made to state
regulation, because certain public
utilities are In favor thereof. These
objections are made only for the pur.
pose of creating prejudice. 1t Is not
q question as to who are for or against,
1t is a question Of right, Justice and
equity. Many public utilities In this
state are favorable to state regula-
ton. They know that 1t must come
sooner or later, and also that In other
states, while 1t has proven = great
benefit to the people, it has not in
jured legitimate business enterprise,
hut rather helped 1t by estab1shins
more efficient and economic manage.
ment, by furnishing expert service and
equipment to every municipality m
the state at a minimum expense, by
providing uniform systems Of valua-
ton and accounting, by eliminating
useless duplication Of service az we'll
as equipment, and by attracting to
this service a higher grade Of experts
and employees through It's merit sys-
tenn. The most powerful public utin-
ties corporation in the state, however,
has been the leader in opposing state
roer,,1o %ios, ~ oil n,ihNc rtilitiaR and