The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-06-26
Says He viii Demand Passage
Of Statewide Utilities Law,
TO TAKE The STUMP SOON
intends to Deliver Number of Speeches
Outlining What He Thinks the
Legislature Should Do.
Especial Correspondence

AAA4oiotl oIlou. his eXcellency always
has been along conciliatory lines, more
often giving than taking, but it is to
be fight from now on. Governor Eber-
hart has got the state utility control
bug and he is going to back up his
position with good stiff scrap it
necessary. At Austin, on the occasion
OF the midsummer meeting of the
Southern Minnesota Better Develop
ment association, his excellency an
was going to do in the matter of state
wide control of utilities and he left
no room for doubt as to his position.
He was going to call a session of the
legislature, he said; he would demand
the passage Of bill providing for a
state utilities commission and he
would insist that it be made appoin.
tive with the executive doing the ap-
pointing. He did not say so in as
many words, but he inferred that
there would be trouble if his wishes
were not respected and further that
there would be more trouble if any at
tempt was made to take the appoint
ment of the desired commission out
of his hands. His talk was the open
ing gun in his announced campaign for
state control of utilities and he fol-
lowed it later with the statement that
as soon as he returned from the Get
tysburg centennial he would take up
the fight in earnest and deliver a num-
Der of speeches outlining what he
wanted. For number of weeks there
have been rumors to the effect that
Governor Eberhart was getting cold
feet in the matter of the special ses-
sion promised by him and that he had
about agreed to pass up the utility
control scheme for this year, but his
Austin speech gave such the lie. 1t
spelled fight all down the line and l
can see trouble from now on for those
who oppose him. For peace loving
official and from one who has been
branded everything but fighter his
utterances and the definite stand taken
by him has astonished even his clos
sent his stock up several points.
!. !. ].
Mention was made last week by
yours truly of how the passing OF the
political convention had affected those
gatherings and affairs which in the
old days were the mecca of all per-
sons politically ambitious. This was
never better illustrated than at Aus
tin last week at the meeting of the
Southern Minnesota Development as
ISOLATION. The big fellows were con-
spicuous by their absence and had it
not been for Governor Eberhart's Sc
lection of the occasion for the firing
of the opening gun in his public utili-
ties fight and a row started by one or
two officers of the Northern Develop
ment association, who took exceptions
to remarks made by one of the speak
ers, the gathering would have received
scarcely any mention from the big
city dailies. The attendance was hard
ly worth the efforts of those in charge.
Three years ago when the Northern
DEVELOPMENT association was launched
invitations to it's initial meeting were
at a premium. Politicians thrOnged
the meeting place and the association
was voted a huge success. The same
was the case when the West Central
and Southern Minnesota associations
were launched. All three have been
dwindling in point of attraction, how
<h1 nd
looks pretty much as If they would
continue to do so.
:. !. :.
The Great Northern and other roads
which were concerned in the recent
rate litigation and which resulted in a
sweeping victory for the state have de-
cided to take their medicine and will
put the disputed rates into effect with
out delay and pay any claims for ex-
cess charges presented to them. This
includes the acceptance of the 2-cent
passenger fare law. President Gray of
the Great Northern and high officials
OF number q the other roads operat-
ing in the state met with members of
the railroad commission and Attorney
General Smith and it is said assur-
ances were given by the railroad off,
Gals that they would submit to the
courts findings without further litiga.
ton.
!. !. !.
The state board of control last
week invited bids for about $275,OOC
In state certificates and though the
lot represented a good purchase for
any one desiring to invest some coin
of the realm no offers were received.
Tightness in the money market was
assigned as the reason for the alb.
sence of bidders. Part of the certifi-
Gates offered for sale were to aid ir
the construction of the new state
prison at saltwater and the ap-
parent Indifference on the part of the