The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-03-28
RELIEF SHOIJLD CONF
THROUGH COMMISSION

In response to the demands of the
people the recent legislature created a
public utilities commission which will
safeguard the interests of the people
without working an injustice on public
service corporations, In the full con-
ldence that Governor Haines will ex-
ercise his best judgment in making ap-
polntments on the commission the
people feel treasured. Governor
Halnes has gone to California and will
Don return via Oregon and Washing
ton. While away he will give the
public utilities commissions of the
states which he visits close study in
hopes that his Investigations will be of
help in Idaho. The commissions of
Oregon and Washington are very ef-
fective. The people of those states
are we'll satisfied with the operations
OF their laws and at the same time
capital has no just cause of complaint
II the same condition can be broueh,
ibout in Idaho the recent legislature
VIII have accomplished a great deal
The people of the state will be In.
to await the action of the COM
mission before taking steps to help
themselves in other ways. In this we
believe they exercise good judgment
The appointment of the right men on
the utilities commission will immed-
lately remove much of the friction
that now exists and has existed for a
number OF years. Rightly or not the
people have come to the conclusion
that they have not received fair treat
ment at the hands OF railroads, tele-
phone and telegraph lines and power
c!opanies. As there was no autor.
lzed commission to hear their COM
plants and rectify conditions the peo-
pie naturally grew to hate the corpor-
atoms. 1t is probably fact that in
many cases the public service CORPORA
tions were in the right, and if there
had been an impartial tribunal to hear
complaints and settle them, much of
the III feeling would never have come
INTO existence. The very fact that
there was no tribunal to intercede in
oehalf OF the people was itself enough
to arouse suspicious on the part If
the people.
Reprisal was resorted to on the part
OF the people. Every person figured
mat ne was in duty bound to take
"hack at corporation whenever the
opportunity presented itself Munich
pal governments caused them trouble
whenever possible. suits for damages
rarely resulted in favor of the corpor
ation whatever the merits of the case
might have been. the people inaueur-
ated competition whenever thew could
we nave had municipality owned DOW.
CT and lighting plants and independent
,,eiephone company when there w,s
httle or no use for them exceDt 70
crafty the hatred against the cornor
atoms, All this will pass away. The
people now that they have an author
'zed commission to right their wrongs
see that they get good service at re-,
sonaole prices; and generally protect
.heir interests, will be perfectly will
ing to work with the corporation, for
the mutual benefit of all concerned
They will be willing TO L., ,-;v,t.
corporations attend to the lines of
business which can be best handled
by such corporations. There will he
no more duplication of plants Of ,rv
Kind. The Tribune thinks and be-,
lieves that this will be the result Of
the creation of the public utilities
commission. At any rate that should
De one OF the results. Relief should
come from the commission else tbere
Is a useless expenditure Of $4,000 nor
annum of tax money.