Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-22
CITIES HOME RULE
THREATENS HEADS
! OF WATER TRUST
Men Holding Franchises
Worth Millions II ear
Warning at Atlantic City
Convention.

ATLANTIC CtTY, Oct. 22.-Frank ad-
,,isson that the Pennsylvania public
,uit,es act has created water power
ernst in that State, unassailable so long
=. tbe act remains unchanged and a
earning from C. LaT2ue Munson, general
,ounsel. of wiliamsport, that a home
rue fight is brewing, were sensational
asvo,opmcnts in the annual convention
of tre Pennsylvania Water Works AS
sociation today.
"Water barons" who hold franchises
worth millions in all parts of the Key
stone State heard the warning from the
Uilliamsport counsel with serious faces.
MANY of them are frankly alarmed over
the fight at York to demand better serv-
ice from the York Water Company The
passing of the Penrose regime also was
a sore subject for heads of the more
powcrful Of the larger companies repre-
ssnted in the convention.
An eloquent peroraton on the public
utilities act and the Public Service Com
mission preceded Mr.. Munsons warning
~ think 1t fair to say" he declared,
'that the people of Pennsylvania have
not been disappointed so far in the work
of the commission. It's fairness has
been clearly demonstrated. 1t is better
for the corporations themselves to be
under the protection of such body, for
their rights are safeguarded where they
should be safeguarded. Municipal rivalry
successful in Pennsylvania, but 1t has
frequently resulted almost dsastrously
for vested rights"
The Williamsport attorney then pointed
out that under the present act no COM
peting company nor even municipality
itself, can invade the territory of an ex-
istIng company without the consent of
the State Commis sion, which must be
convinced that service has been made
duate rates too high or that there was
other good reason for disturbing the en-
tire possession Of the field by the COM
pany OH the ground.
But movement Is now being orga-
nlzed." he continued, sitting a ripple of
applause, ''to give boroughs what is
called home rule by taking control of
our companies away from the Public
Service Commission and lodging II In the
hands of municipalities, perhaps animated
by bias and prejudice. I have noted in
one Of the newspapers that candidates
are being interrogated as to their willing |
ness to vote for home rule, and 1t is |
evident that we must be prepared TO fight |
at Harrisburg if one of the best features |
of the public utilities law Is not to be |
destroyed.
This act cannot be honestly criticised. |
] submit that If corporation is to be |
controlled by the State it must also be |
protected in the enjoyment of its fran |
chses. / cannot believe the people of |
Pennsylvania will permit an act so
worthy as this to he emasculated. I am
not talking politics when | say l do not
believe the people can be fooled all the
time"
The convention voiced its approval when
Mr., Munson said that the recent decision
of the Utilities Commission in the Beth
lchem discount case, that companies are
justified in raising rates under eXcep-
tlonal conditions and cutting them to
meet municipal competition was abso-
lutely fair He said he was convinced
the attempt of York to force the nstalla-
tion of water meters by ordinance under
power conferred by the third-class city
code would he nullitied by the courts
because 1t conficted with the utilities act.