The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-02-04


BY experience that it is very difficult
to keep municipality owned plants out
of politics.
"As a general principle, it is true
that the state or the city should not
go into business which can be tran
sacted as well by individuals. In the
case Of public utilities, the selfish
greed of human nature too often takes
advantage Of the peoples independ-
ence to demand excessive rates or
grant unfair discrimination as be-
tween localities and individuals.
Favor State Regulation
Gwen municipality owned public
utilities are now realizing the neces-
sity Of statewide regulation and a
strong demand for such regulation
comes from producers and consumers
alike throughout the state.
lowing to local conditions and in
fluences, it is impossible for local
commission to be as successful in the
regulation of these utilities as state
wide commission. The gul a t in G
authority and the regulated are too
closely related and dependent upon To-
cal conditions and it is almost imposs-
IDLE to be impartial and fair"
What Murray Bill Provides
The Murray bill provides for super
vising municipality owned plants, and
those conducted by corporations. Citi-
zens may go to the utilities commits
sion and ask for an investigation of
any rates or service given by any
plant owned by a municipality or by
corporation.
The general provisions of the bill
follow:
State public utilities commission to
consist of members, to be appointed
by the Governor at salary of $4,000
a year.
Total expenditures of the board not
to exceed $4,000 per annum.
Jurisdiction Is Wide
The commission shall have jurisdic-
ton over property rights, facilities,
franchises and service of all steam
railroad, street railway, traction rail-
way, electric railway, canal, express,
subway, pipeline, gas, electric light,
heat, power, water, oil, sewer, tele-
phone, telegraph or other utility in
public use.
The commission shall have power to
and value the property of any
public utility, fix reasonable, just in
dividual rates, tolls, charges, or sche-
dulles; regulate service, fix rules to Sc
cure accuracy of meters and applianc-
es for measurements; compel any pub
lie utility to comply with municipal
ordinances; compel extension of exist
ing facilities where there is sufficient
business to justify such extension;
prevent discrimination in rates of one
locality against another; prohibit the
issuance of stocks, stock certificates,
bonds or other evidences of indebted
ness without authority from the board;
prohibit capitalizing any franchise to
be a corporation or capitalizing any
contract for consolidation, merger or
lease except when authorized; prohibit
selling, Leasing, mortgaging or dispos-
ing of property or franchise rights or
merging with any other public utili-
ty without approval Of the board; pro-
llibit the granting of any franchise or
privilege to any public utility by any
political subdivision of the state until
approved by the board, and in any
other way supervise the general con-
duct of business of public utilities.
Court May Review Acts
The supreme court is given the
right of review of all acts of the utili-
ties commission. Under provisions of
the bill, the commission is not to seek
individual direction of the operation of
dividusl direction of the operation of
any public utility but is to act only as
a court of appeal to which Complaints
may be taken.
Every public utility in every city,
town or village Of The State will be re-
CURED to conform to orders from the
commission. Other states in the Union
have these boards and their success in
regulating public utilities prompts
Minnesota to seek such bower. too.