The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-27
THE NTOLERABLE TIE

."c "osct NonSuultTs OF CHARLESTON
are stirred up over the failure to get
lower rates from a private corpoia
ton through tie vote of the Public
Service Commission. The consumers.
40 far as The Intelligeneer can see.
made out fair case for themselves.
but the two Democratic members OF
the Commission stalled them by
voting against the reduction OF rates.
This clearly sets forth one OF the de-
fects In the act creating the Commits
sion. to which The Intelligencer first
called attention to some time ago.
The dissident members Of the Com
mission have. so far. failed to give any
reasons for their action, while the
statement OF the case by Commission
er Ogden in favor of the reduction
very clearly establishes the extortion-
ate charges made by the water com.
pany.
The matter seems to have hinged on
the question OF the valuation of the
plant. The corporation claimed it's
plant was worth $500. 900. and that its
rates should be sufficient to pay divi-
dends on that amount But this was
not a true value. or. In other words.
an investment value. but a superficial,
or market valuation. Judge Ogden
held that the Commission only had
TO do with the actual investments Of
A IN hull a
equipment which are put to the uses
of the public IN serving II with water.
Working on that basis. IL was found
from evidence introduced that the
value OF the company's working plant.
the value representing the actual
money the company has In a manner
loaned to the uses of the public. to be
S3sS.513. In arriving at his findings
on the value OF the plant for rate-mak-
ing purposes. Commissioner Ogden
took up every item of value listed by
the company in it's estimate. and his
judgment in each instance is support
ed by action that has been taken on
like items by utility commissions in
a number Of other States.
II was not long ago that the Ohio
Commission took hold OF a similar
situation at Bucyrus. in that State
in which the corporation had attached
all sorts of intangible values to its
plant on which 1t professed to pay its
dividends. The Ohio Commission
made short work of the company's
pretensions. settled a reasonable in
yestment value on the concern and
gave the people the relief sought. The
true value OF the Charleston plant was
found to be half Of what its officers
claimed for IL. and the relief should
have been granted to the consumers
who were shown to be paying exces
sive rates. The Intelligencer has re
cited the reasons why the Commits
sion was constituted OF equal political
membership. The Senate. in 1913, was
tie and the Democratic members
had II within their power to defeat
the act creating this body. and Their
support could only be gained by con
ceding an equal membership on II
The Republicans submitted rathei
than see one OF the most beneficial
institutions fail
With the appointing power In th'
hands OF the Republicans. and th'
party held responsible for the accom-
piishments OF the Commission. Z
Justly ought to have had a maiorit,
representation. The default In IN,
present case shows the utter fulfill,
Of allowing the Commissions member
ship to remain az at present constl
tuted. and one OF the earliest acts o
the Legislature should be the enac,
.ment Of corrective legislation provid
ing for a membership OF either thre
or hve. the dominant party. OF course
70 be represented BY the majorit
Commissioners