Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-02-19
THE ELECTRIC RATE WAR.

protested to the Public Utilities Com |
mission against the discrimination |
the Great Shoshone Light e. Power
Co. were making among the various
consumers of their power. Although |
the power of regulating public serv-
ice corporations in the state was by
the last legislature vested in a com
mission. which is probably the most
powerful of any commission ever Gre
ated in any state, 1t would seem that
thus far the members of this com
mission have not the moral courage
to fulfill the duties that were sup
posed to fall on their shoulders.
This question has been before the
commission for some time, but in
stead of deciding 1t, they have al
lowed it to drag into a contest be-
tween the Shoshone Co. and the Bea
yer River Co., the former company
charging that the Beaver River Co.
were furnishing electricity at loss.
1t is evident to almost anyone not a
member OF this commission that any
great corporation is not going to file
schedule of rates below the cost OF
service, but to delay matters as long
as possible. the commission has con-
cluded to investigate the workings
OF the companies, but the fallacy OF
this investigation is clearly shown In
the appointment OF men to carry 1t
on. The Twin Falls Times gives an
example of this as follows:
THE action OF the Public Utilities
Commission in sending II. H. Miller.
a former employee OF the Great Sho-
shone Power company to investigate
the conduct of the company for the
commission, looks very raw. In the
first place such employee cannot, by
the fact OF his association with that
company help put be prejudiced In
their favor, and be very apt to see
things from their standpoint. AS a
question OF the public welfare, the
Times is obliged to protest against
the sending OF Mr.. Miller as the rep
lresentative OF the Utilities Commis-
sion. AS far as the expert services of
Ian accountant are concerned the stu
alton here does not need such mans
services. but rather a man with com
mon sense to get in touch with the
people. see their bills and make re-
port OF the opinions expressed as to
the eompany's fairness with its pa
irons. The people are entitled to an
Investigation from man whose
former connection with the power
company will not cause prejudice to
either side. The Times fully believes
that the present investigation cannot
be fair to the side of the consum-
ers."
Twin Falls. Buhl and Shoshone
have joined with Wendell in this
; fight for equal rates throughout this
territory. but an appeal to the village
, trustees OF Jerome was tabled. We
doubt II the trustees voiced the SEN
timent OF the citizens of the town in
this matter. At the present time the
rates here for lighting are three
cents per kilowatt higher than the
people of Gooding and other points
b. are paying the Beaver River Co. fol
the same service, and as the commits
sion has the power to regulate these
} rates. sufficient pressure should be
brought to bear upon them to caus,
: them to decide the matter at the ear
e liest moment possible. We do no.
, believe the people of Jerome ar,
such philanthropists that they ar,
4 willing to pay more for electric
service than their neighbors, anC
from the general sentiment we heal
expressed there is likely to be a pc
e tition circulated here expressing thu
views of our citizens on this matter