The Marshall republican., 1914-01-16

crvice and often largely for political
'easons. This is also true OF the
They usually keep their ac-
counts mixed up with other business
the city. The administration of
he plant is usually changed with the
in the administration of the
and instead of there being an
engineer, or some body who has had
experience, in charge. they very often
Put q good politician In charge"
Nowadays the practical and up-to-
date public utility operators are TAX
ing a broader view OF matters aud
favor regulation by expert commits
sions. With the protection offered
by your Public Service Commission
of Missouri, 1t would not seem neces-
sary to experiment in municipal own
ership In order TO get good service at
lust and reasonable rates.
In his little booklet entitled "The
oiigin. Growth and Work OF Public
Utilities Commissions" Arthur Sted-
man Hill says:
The position OF the public utili-
ties commission In our government
today is that OF an intermediate body,
neither a court nor q legislature, yet
endowed with certain legislative or
administrative and judicial functions.
While II Us purely q creature OF tie
legislature. II supplies what neither
legislatures nor courts have been able
to supply in the growing demand for
public regulation. namely, n constant,
scrutiniziny aud often scientific
watchfulness over the details OF bust
n,sses effected with a public interest
The commission assists the courts IL
the ascertainment OF facts. II assists
the legislature by discovering tho
needs of the community and recon-
mcnding legislation. II II a body e
which any aggrleyed individual maj
go with his complaint. without eX
ptnsc."
Under the law of your state an!
twenty-five consumers, or the mayo
aud council OF a city. may complain
tc the commission regarding rates
service. etc. and have an investlga
ton started almost imme liately aut
the commission would ordinaril'
, hold its hearing In yorr city. nm,
thereby n v expense on TIC part q
tie people In presenting their wrDng
, which they desire to have corrected,
1.-THE Missouri Commission law
ono of the most complete acts passc
p IN the last few years and Ii the out
4. Growth OF many years OF study. TIL
.'iggGrl Commission has almost u;
rl,'m.,cd power and jurisdiction {
. ct.iIJl and regulate utilities and III
IN ,Iahcrs are %thoroushly qualified I
hpndlc the business 0l the CCmmi
sion. They are all men OF hig
a standing not only In your W sta
d but IN n~elgh'oring states rs we'll.
The Wisconsin Commission stanS
out prc-eminently among the sta
commissions because or the fair M
q Impartial manner In which its mon
c hors have passed upon all question
Il &C ming before II for adjudication.
l. has power TO fix rates. remove di
If Oiminations. require adequate SO
II vice, require the building OF add
la lions and extensions to the seryic
lr lines. facilities. etc, Including q
& general Improvement OF the propert
rs require standing service. n unifor
n- system OF accounting and the fill
~ OF rate schedules. together with
es rules and regulations pertalnil
30 thereto. The charges TO the pub
20 cannot be raised or even chang,
without the consent OF the Comm.
H. sion. The Commission has the rig
to inspect meters. which service
te often required by citizens who clai
that their meters are running I
C. rapidly. IT, upon investigation. I
r. cor, mission finds that the meter
a out of order. Il orders the compa'
ie to properly repair 1t or install n nj
b. one. aud all of these services can
Id had practically without charge.
es II is the duty OF the commission
n pass upon all capital issues, that
&; all issues OF stocks and bonds. Not
be Tor more than ono year cannot
o. given without u certificate from I
Is &C mmission. The commission b
the power to make n valuation OF I
as property OF any and all utilities,
~ we'll as common carriers, before
,es Gliding what Is a reasonable rate,
n. whether stocks or bonds should be
IN sued on the property. The vomm
IL. sion must supervise the re~organii
M tion OF utilities ind pass upon