The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-07-24
House and Senate Committees
Oppose His Utilities Plan.
CONDEMN OCTOBER SESSION
Members of the Upper Branch Also OF
the Opinion That Proposed Leg
isIation Is Not Demanded.

pected that the house committee
named by Speaker Rines to investigate
the question of state control of public
utilities would be antagonistic to the
scheme as advocated by Governor
toerhart and it's first meeting having
to do with the issue was taken on the
basis of Il told you So" 1t came out
as expected. Last week the senate
committee, headed by Senator Hack
ney, named for the same purpose, with
the additional command that it draft
public utilities control bill, held it's
initial meeting at the state capitol
and while it never figured in the Il
told you so" class it had to be said
that it's deliberations, which were of
the disconnected kind, we're anything
but in line with Governor Eberhart's
way of thinking. The meeting, which
lasted nearly an entire day, showed
cOnclusively that the senate commit
tee, named by Lieutenant Governor
Burnquist, is rot in sympathy with
the issue. 1t differs with his excel
lency in that a majority believes that
state control of utilities at this time
is not demanded, that a special SEES
sion Of the legislature is not backed
by the public and that if the governor
insists on a special session it should
be held next January instead of in
October, as suggested by the governor.
October, it was unanimously agreed by
the committee, would work a hardship
on all country members.
:. = \
Getting back to the original prOpO-
sitiOn, the senate committee, which is
composed of Senators j. NJ Hackney,
St. Paul; H. w. Cheadle, Duluth; J. A.
Collier, Shakopee; Ole o. Sageng, Dial
ton; W. S. Dwinnell, Minneapolis; F.
E. Putnam, Blue Earth, and G. H. Sui
Ivan, Saltwater, met in anything but
an agreeable state of mind. Right
ator Sullivan, who is heart and soul
with his excellency, was not present,
and Senators Putnam and Collier
showed signs that they were open to
conviction. The majority of the COM
mittee, however, led by Senators
Hackney of St. Paul and Dwinnell of
Minneapolis, indicated that they were
opposed and had it not been for the
good offices of Senators Collier and
Putnam there would now be on the
records a resolution declaring that a
public utilities commission was not
wanted, that there was no demand for
the act and that the business and
farming interests of the state were op-
posed to a special session of the leg
islature. 1t was pointed out though
by Messrs. Putnam and Collier that
any action of this kind would rebound
to the credit of the governor and in
fuence a lot of people who do not
know a public utility from a hole in
the ground. The latter comparison, it
was agreed, about fitted the PROPOSE
ton at the present time, in so far as
the governors advocacy of state con-
troll and the knowledge Of the general
public as to what is a public utility
and how it should be properly con-
trolled, is concerned. The committee
finally came to the conclusion that it
had only one duty and that was the
drafting Of a bill, and it reluctantly
agreed to accept the task. To this end
it agreed to adjourn to Aug. 49, when
experts on beth sides of the question
will be invited to be present and air
their views.
With all due respect to Governor
Eberhart and his opinion that the pub
lie utilities should be assembled I'M
der one central head, the senate COM
mittee comes pretty near being right
in it's conclusion that the general pub.
lie is not clamOring for the new order
of things and that with some people
the word public utilities is unknown
AS to the date of the special session,
If his excellency insists on calling it,
that is matter between the governor
and the members of the legislature.
The idea in the mind of the governor,
as interpreted by some of the men,
bers Of the committee, is to call it in
october, so as to catch the members
at their busiest time and compel quick
action. Senator Hackney insists that
the question OF state control is of
such magnitude that haste in the CON-
piling of bill should not be per
mitted. Senator Dwinnell says Wis.
eonsin is paying 100000 a year in or
der to maintain the new order Of
things and that Minnesota should do
some careful thinking before it sad.
dies itself with debt of this amount
Then, too, it is pointed out that state
control does not mean these utilities
in the cities alone, but everywhere, and
that when the small towns awake and
find they are included that they will
rebel. 1t is big question, fellows,
and look for some strenuous times
before the end is reached.
!. = +
The chronicling of things political
this week would not be complete if l
did not mention the victory Of Bemidji