The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-07-01
Governor fberhart
Favors Commission
State Executive Talks With Enthus-s
iasm and Earnestness on State
Control of Utilities
PLANS BROAD SPEAKING TOUR
Believes Commission Should Be APP
pointive One to Insure Most
Ultimate Good
LANS BROAD SPEAKING TOUR

Governor Eberhart wants Public
Utilities Commission.
He knows just why he wants it and
just how he is going to get it, too.
Probably no other one man in the
United States has made so thorough a
study of this commission matter as
the Governor, or is quite so much in
earnest about it.
In an interview with Governor
Eberhart last Thursday, The Gazette
learned many interesting facts on the
question of public utilities-and
learned just how enthusiastic this
champion Of the commission is.
Three Reasons Why
There are three good and sufficient
reasons why Minnesota should have a
statewide utilities control, says the
Executive.
The first is the efficiency of such a
commission which is apparent to the
most casual observer. This makes it
possible for the utilities to come und-
err the direction of expert service, and
to be dependent upon neither local
conditions nor prevailing politics.
In fact the commission would take
the matter ultimately and entirely out
side the pale of politics, which is an
end devoutly to be wished.
The utilities are not and cannot be
considered municipal in character and
their removal from municipal dicta-
ton would have many advantages.
Not the least of these would be the
fixing of responsibility upon few in
stead of the many where it now rests.
The second reason is one which will
appeal strongly to the taxpayers of
this extravagant commonwealth. This
is the economy of the scheme. Under
the commission one service will. be
able to do the work of many, which
will be great saving in the matter
of salaries, and will also make possible
the expert service which is a crying
need of present day conditions.
The third reason given by Governor
Eberhart why the state should be CIV
en- control is that the uniformity of
having the work under one manage
ment means much in both efficiency
and economy. The accounting and
auditing will necessarily be uniform
thus making it easy for one branch to
profit by the experiences of another
Success in Wisconsin
The Governor has recently been
making a careful study of the COM
mission plan in Wisconsin, and it only
increased his enthusiasm. Last year
that state saved 100000 by rate re-
auctions made possible by state con-
troll. The scheme is gaining constant
ly in popularity in the Badger State.
The Governor would have the COM
mission an appointive one, thus MAX
ing expert service absolutely sure,
and removing all chance of politics
entering into the offices. The public
is protected by the recall from any in
discretions in the matter of appoint
ments on the part of the Governor
and no one is quite so fully aware of
this protection as is Adolph Eberhart.
Plans Speaking Tour
There are many interesting sidelights
on this favorite plan of the Governor
which the public will be given an op-
portunity to learn when he starts his
speech-making campaign Immediately
upon his return from the Gettysburg
encampment. This will be his lead
ing subject for his addresses through
out the state at county fairs and other
events.
The Governor carries the force of
conviction in all his remarks on the
subject He hits straight out, his
listener knows just what he believes
and why he believes it He promises
to be as forceful and edifying on this
subject as he has been upon the agri-
cultural development in the past
Speaking of agricultural develop
ment, we learned recently that this
same Governor is to talk at eight or
ten of the big Chautauqua meetings
of the East on this subject during
August and September. He is also
the author of an intensely interesting
and instructive article on this same
topic. The article entitled what /
Am Trying To Do" appeared in the
April issue Of Worlds Work and
shows Governor Eberhart a pastmast-
er of the matter Of which he writes.