New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-09
National Civic Federation
Reports on Model Bill
for Regulation.
MEMBERS SPLIT ON
OWNERSHIP QUESTION
impending Conflict with Unions
and Civil Service System
an Issue.

A1i tCr the regulation OF pubNC utlil-
s.s prensrcd by seth Low. the prcsi-
s.-;. sri William r. WiljeoS.
With the report is draft OF the bill
,~.osred by sac executive council,
Consisting o. Emerson McMiihn. Of the
Americsr iiCat and Traction Com
ANY: Frsnkl.n @. Brown, o. Redmond
4 90: John IT, Gray. OF she Cnivcr-
s;,v 81 Njrnoscts. Edward ". Bsssett,
Former member 81 tie New York Pub
h, Service Commission; Haltorc Brick
sor Of the Pubic Service Commission
~ Wisconsin: William II. Kerr. Of Chi
30: Riewc.t Lee. general counsel of
~ illinois Central: Milo r. Msl,bie.
~ ne New York Public Service Com
rjssion. and Arthur Williams, chair
~s7 Of The Association Of Edison Flee
nc Companies.
Though an TIE members of the
,auuen signed the draft, Mr. Naltbie,
y. Cray and Nr. Bassett disSentCd as
n four sections. The differences in re-
y,r6 20 the bin reflect The difference
i he points Of view Of those who
-sss them. Those 20 whom publ c
suoership !s not abhorrent ore IL
e5ped 20 press regulation 10 the limit.
even u 10 makes 10 impossible TO OBJ
III, private capital for the conStruc-
ION and conduct OF public utilities.
would Limit Regulation.
Those who have the procuring OF pri-
gste capital Tor public utilities believe
,hs, 700 much regulation will easily
rake pr.yst. csptal unavailable and
'esn towSr5 limiting regulation as
much SIS possible Ia this conServa-
.iye element there sre again great diff
.srenees OF opinion. Some believe in
public regulation and wish to make il
practicable and successful. Others ac-
sept it reluctantly and arc fearful Of
any limitation which may interfere
vith established practices.
Tie model bill IS divided into eleven
usin articles. ApGr; from the usual
but Important definitions, these articles
zeal WITH the organization o. s public
serrice commission, with the general
rogers O. the commission, the reculs-
-5r o. stock and bond issues, inter-
corporate relations, rates, adequacy Of
service, the regulation OF accounts and
reports. franchises. procedure before
tie commission and with the enforce
nent OF the act.
Concluding thei- report, Mr.. Low and
W. Wilcox emphasize the fact that the
issue IS between the public ownership
snd operation Of public utilities and the
private ownership OF such utilities TN
der proper regulation. They mold that
his question IS not wholly and perhaps
not primarily one vi economics.
Grave and fGrrcaching social and po-
lt.cal questions are inevitably IL
'o.yel." they declare. THE public own
elsaiD snC operation Of o public utility
here and there is matter Of compare
|f,ivs urimoor'arce, but the adoption o.
such O policy by q large and pOpulous
STAG is q very different matter.
Conflict with Civil Service.
For example. in san Francisco a
stree. railway system has been taken
ever By the public. and is now publicly
& ognel and operated. By consequence
/, comes under the operation OF the
4 safe civil service law. The applics-
lol Of this law 20 the men employed
4 b. The private company when taken
4 s7sT resulted 10 the loss OF their places
By many members Of the local union
4 u stiee;car employees. The effect upon
i Ie union was so serious that the Amer
4 !ean Federation of Labor has sent "a
commission 20 Europe this year 20
'edy particularly this aspect Of the
Question.
y Without tempting 20 anticipate
4 iae repor- Of this commission, il seems
4 ~ ls upon The surface that the civil
sriee system and regulation q rates
y pay By Law are Inconsistent with
1e met1c0, and objects Of collective
'lrgaining by organized labor.
IN this apparently irreconcilable
conflict, which system in this country
& S'uld be likely 20 20 by tie board, the
= .Nu service system or that Of col
ieciiye bargaining? II the civil service
4 system were 20 be broken down the
'ounig would be in danger OF return
4 nc 70 the demoralizing doctrine TO
ae ylctors belong the spoils,' with the
polls multiplied so as 20 includ9
q every position uecessitated by the
D .pers,iou u the public utility, what
"er 10 may be
3 Military System an Answer.
D The attempt 70 carry out the
\ methods Of collective bargaining and
ne night OF striking in connection
III
Z pathway toward placing every public
k mp .oymen, upon military basis, Tor
n TIC large public viii not permanently
permit The public servants either 10
.Yercc its judgment or 10 deprive it
Il ~ Public services which are essential
y us Nel.bcing These are some or
'e social questions that are inv olved
b lAc general acceptance OF public
'hersnip ana operation ~ distln,
-lsaed from private ownership and
y lerstiou.
he public ownership and Operatlou
public utilities OF all kinds, II steam
sifoaos are included, would add liter
~ millions OF men and women 10 the
1plc payroll. II such Il policy Is
lopted 10 should be adopted deliber-
.e'y' and the object Of this memoran-
I'm Is % point out that such cues
''hs as these lar outweigh IN public
III po'iance the financial questions that
~ involved ~ between public owner
N ana operation and private owner
AZ " and operation under public rcgula-
III Public regulation Of privately
Yea aud operated public utilities, i
-1- regulation ia successful, ought 70
'IS'e TIC principal abuses which
- developed 100 the past from the
e0ntrolec private ownership ana
vFa1ion OF public Utilities. If public
3e'saIp ard operation on vast
l." s undertaken. what is TO be the
'glar1 against the social and po-
II '"i oangers which have been pointed
u these prove 20 be in fact az
'al as they appear 10 be .'