Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-08-22

wide accounting and statistical DE-
partment. $
8. Municipal Plants Municipal
plants are not operated for private
gain, and their regulation az far as
the state is concerned is therefore
largely a matter Of accounting and
reports. They are therefore inter-
ested principally IN the accounting
and statistical departments OF the
state commission. These plants, when
properly segregated from political
domination, very readily adopt the
improved methods Of other utilities.
and profit by their experience. The
uniform system Of accounting enables
them at all times to know the exact
cost Of operation which is essential in
the interest Of economy. This is oc-
casioned sometimes by lack of ex-
pert advice and sometimes by political
interference. Oftentimes municipal
plants do not provide sufficient funds
for depreciation, and the complete re.
construction of plant has to be met
by excessive taxes instead of a grad,
ual charge against the consumers.
Errors Of this kind are always
checked by the state commission and
corrected. While there has been
disposition on the part Of some mu.
inequalities owning public utilities to
oppose complete state regulation,
there has been very little objection
raised to the control of such utilities
to the extent of enforcing proper uni
form accounting and the furnishing of
reports.
4. Service, Rates and Returns
The uniformity in service, rates ana
returns of similar public utilities
through the state, as far as the local
differences in the cost Of operation
will permit, is desirable, no one will
question, and it is difficult to see how
any one can. consistently advocate
any other method of securing such
uniformity than by state regulation.
RELATION between STATE REG
ULATioN AND HOME RULE.
While the home rule argument
has often been used to defeat state
regulation, there is no valid reason
why the true home rule principle
should not be made effective in con-
: nection with state regulation. If any
; municipality should desire special or
additional service and is willing to
pay for it, such service should be
granted. In the location of car barns,
!, power houses and other similar build
, ings, if the municipality has reserved
certain sections for such purposes, it
should have a right to enforce such
! regulations in all cases. Oftentimes
, in the granting of franchises and cost
,, ~ extensions of service through
, sparsely settled territory, it is desir-
! able to secure an expression OF the
local sentiment in regard thereto, and
: no state commission will disregard
i, such sentiment but rather seek its
| guidance. Where new important i'm.
F.! provements are under consideration
i for adoption; an expression OF the sen.
=, timent in the community affected
=, thereby is not only desirable but often
necessary. Wherever the home rule
principle can be applied for the pur.
pose of securing service more suit
! able to the need of the community in
question, it cannot in any way con.
! tlict with proper state regulation, but
will on the other hand be valuable
aid.
I AS to the maintenance of separate
expert service and equipment for the
purpose of testing products, determine
ing reasonableness of rates and max
! ing valuations by the municipality, il
/ is largely question OF economy. Il
the local taxpayers are willing to i'm
pose this unnecessary burden upor
themselves, the taxpayers not affect
ed thereby should not complain.
Wherever disputes arise under thu
application of the home rule principle
between the Municipality and the pub
Tic utilities corporations, the STATE
commission must be the arbitrator
subject, as ia all cases, to an appea
to the courts. It has been found b.
experience, however, that the deci
SONS Of state commissions have beef
go uniformly thorough and fair tina
Few appeals to the courts have beef
taken.
FORM AND SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES LAW.
This is matter for the legislator,
to solve. In my discussion I hay,
pointed out the essential elements o
the law, the details are not so i'm
;portant. After having made a care
full study of the laws of other states
i do not hesitate to state that tn.
Wisconsin law, with some modinca
l:tious, that apply specially to our state
lis the best. Under it Wisconsin ha,
successfully regulated it's utilities
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