The Glenwood post., 1916-01-08
CAPITAL CORRESPONDENCE

Denver, Colo, Jan. 3, lSl..
One of the finest pieces of construc-
tive work performed by the present
state administration is in connection
with the Public Utilities commission.
1t will be rendered that this COM
mission took the place of the old Rail
road commission, which was handl-
capped through lack of authority anu
power, and was really nothing more
than a bureau of information. Mr.. >.
s. Kendall and Mr.. George 7. Bradley
of the old commission were continued
ON the new and Mr.. NJ. d. Aylesworth
of Fort Collins was appointed by Gov
ernor Carlson. They elected Mr.. George
F. Oxley, a well known Denver news
paper man, their secretary, and sinee
then their offices have been among the
busiest of the State House.
1t has been year of tests for the
law and for the commission.
Phases of the law, such as the right
of the commission to set aside private
and public contracts, franchises, etc,
between public utilities and individu-
ais or the public through the govern
mental units of the state, had to bs
taken up individually and interpreted
and administered. This was shown IN
the recent decision in the Colorado
Springs Light, Heat & Power company
case, wherein the commission ordered
rate reduction averaging about Is per
cent, set aside contracts and franchise
provisions, and required the corpora
ton to in all respects obey the law r.
auiring it to give the public adequate
service at reasonable rates. The et'
fectiveness of this order originally
was set for January l, 1916, but upon
the showing of officials of the com
pany that hardship would be worked
upon the company by giving it SO short
time to change its business methods,
the date of effectiveness of the order
was changed to February l, 1916.
If matters are brought to the atten-
ton of the commission, it may proceed
with cases upon its own motion. 1t has
technical force of rate experts, civil,
hydraulic and electrical engineers, and
a statistical department for the thor
ough investigation of all classes OF
complaints and for the taking OF inven-
tories to determine the valuation of
properties and whether or not they are
being operated properly.
1t has jurisdiction over the construe-
tion of buildings, including railroad
depots, shops, ETC., and has authority
! to investigate and fix the blame fo-
wrecks upon common carriers.
Its powers are of wide scope, and
there is but one appeal from its find
ings-the supreme court, upon questions
of law. Findings of facts by the COM
mission are final and are not subject
to review
Each public service corporation with
in the state is required to file with
this commission copies Of all its schei-
ules of rates and classifications of SER
vice. These records are open to in
spection by the public.
total of ~ formal, and hundreds
of informal complaints were filed with
the commission against public service
corporations during the year just
ell will hn
docket is clear for the new year.
Among these complaints are several
important ones initiated by the com
mission itself. One of the first was
in the nature of sweeping investiga-
tion into the reasonableness of coal
freight rates, and the order in this case
resulted in a material reduction, each
rate ordered into effect being based,
however, upon the income necessary
to give the common carrier of the
state a fair return upon their invest
ments. The railroads appealed to the
supreme court, on questions Of law, but
in spite of this appeal the rates ordered
by the commission are in effect and
are saving money for the people Of the
state pending final adjudication by tho
supreme court.
Perhaps the most far reaching DO
,ision by the commission was that in
the so-called Passenger Rate Case,"
reducing fares generally and inaugu'
.ating the "Family mileage book sys-
en-" an innovation which has proved