Little Falls herald., 1914-02-20
TALKS on PUBLIC QUESTIONS
HUGH J. HUGHES OF MINNEAPOLIS
AND CIIAs. RUSSELL OF BRAIN
ERD SPEAK AT BANQUET. ~ J

HUGH J. HUGHES OF MINNEAPOL1s
AND CIIAs. RUSSELL OF BRAIN
ERD SPEAK AT BANQUET: =.
Little Falls citizens to the number OF
about 50 gathered around the banquet
tables Of the: Buckman hotel Tuesday
evening. the banquet being held under
the auspices Of the Commercial club. and
after the completion Of the menu and the
cigars were passed, listened to two very
able talks.
The first was given by Hugh J.
Hughes. of Minneapolis, editor of Farm
Stock and Home and q member of the
economy and efficiency commission of
thirty, appointed by Governor Eberhardt,
and the other was given by Charles A.
Russell Of Brainerd, whose subject was
ION the Control OF Public Utilities A.
F. Koslosky, president of the commercial
club, presided. .-
Mr.. Hughes said that his talk was the
opening gun of a speaking campaign,
which would be carried on by the COM
mission. The talks were not to be to
impart information only, but to endeavor
to receive information and suggestions
from the different communities. He said
there was no limit put onto what the
commission should go into, that it was
not subject to the governor and that it
intended to go to the bottom of all sug-
gestions of merit in an endeavor to get
out of the present tangle and put the
state affairs on a business basis.
The speaker said that 1t didn't matter
hot {,anr go II,
taxes if a right return is gotten on the
expenditure, and that If it is known
where the money goes He did not be-
lieve a change in the constitution was
necessary, but that a proper scheme
could be worked out under the present
one. ..z.. ,. ..e--. 1ss-~
Instead of the 80 boards now in exist
ence there should be but eight or nine,
and each department placed in the hands
Of one man, who would be held responsi-
BILE for the work of that department, the
rest Of the board to act In an advisory
capacity The heads of departments
could be elective or appointed by the
governor; if elective he suggested the
recall. The departments should be un-
der civil service, but there should be a
plucking system, whereby there would be
change sufficient to warn the employee
that he has to be on the job. ,s.
The lessening Of the number of the
boards would also help to solve the prob
lem of the budget, which system would
work for practical economy in the adj
ministration of state affairs. The COM
mission expected to report it's findings not
later than June l. To succeed the spirit
of hearty cooperation of the people must
exist as we'll as must men thiuk and act
greatly. +. ..s> .,.s.-zs - s
Mr.. Russell. the Brainerd attorney.
:eoysscd e. gaod deaf OF ground, aaidesa1
syfis sun II 81
He stated that he 1e1resented no party
OF. persor, but having made a study Of
the utilities question for number Of
years, having worked for the same n
Wisconsin,, he felt that 1t was up to him
to inform the voters on the subject 60
far as he was able. During his talk he
eulogized Governor Eberhardt. whom he
said at last election he opposed, but had
come to know him better since. He lam
basted the progressives, took shot at
the socialists, said he couldn't stand fol
the old form Of things In the republican
party, and being republican he didn't
know just where he was at. The railway
and warehouse commission came in for q
beautiful roast, Mr.. Elmquist being the
principal target for Mr.. Russells re.
marks -~. - '''- ' -. -.
The speaker advocated the banquet az
an every month feature. He said il
would do more to abolish cliques and dis
sention in the community than most
anything else that might be done.
He said that public utilities are com.
mercial and not political and that tbs
regulation Of them in Minnesota today
was a farce. It was a proposition thai
strikes everybody. Under the present
system there was no way for the people
to know whether they were getting ser
vice they were entitled to, or at a pro
per rate. He took occasion to roast some
of his fellow citizens of Brainerd in The
management of the water plant, which Il
a municipality owned one. z.,
Under the supervision of public utilities
he did not think municipal ownership
necessary, but If no state regulation
then ownership. That the commission
should have control over the punicipa
plant as well as the private one-the city
having no better right to a lower rat
than it's citizens. He also thought tha1
the new order of things would do ava,
with the political features general!
connected with the running Of public
utility plants. = -
With the state in control, the PROPOSE
ton would be put into the hands of ex
perts, who understand the control ant
regulation of public utilities, who woult
be appointed by the governor for lont
term of years. He did not think tina
any lawyer could draw franchise tina
would answer 80 years from now. unde
state control there would be no fran
chises. Every plant would be allowed {
fair return on its investment above tn
| operating and maintenance cost. tn
commission having q right to examin
| the books. Just SO long as the cOncer1
furnishes proper service, just 50 lonl
would It be allowed to operate hlnne
sofa, the speaker said, was one Of 81
states that had not adoptedsa state pub
lie utilities commission OF some form
Just about here. Jim Peterson OF Min
neapolis. who is opposed to the stat