The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-07-06
PUBLIC UTILITIES
MEASURE LIKELY
ADVOCATES TO PUSH BILL BE.
FORE THE NEXT SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE
STATE LACKING In CONTROL
MINNESOTA ONE OF STATES
WHERE NATURAL RESOUR-
CES ARE UNPROTECTED

st. Paul, July 2.-The next legis-
lature now has the attention of those
officially and politically interested and
their chief concern is its law output.
That prohibition, either statutory or
constitutional, will have considerable
of the legislative spotlight is certain,
and there are number of other mat
tiers of great Importance to the state
that are likely to be considered. When
Frank Minette of Stearns county
failed to connect at the primaries he
passed on to his successors and the
Fortieth legislature one matter of i'm
portance that may overshadow every
thi' g else when the 1917 session con-
venes. This particular bit of trouble
is the Minette telephone act, which
puts all telephone companies operat-
ing in the state under the control OF
the state railroad and warehouse COM
mission. The law as it now stands on
the statute books is due to be mate
rally amended and it's reconstruction
may take the form of a general public
utilities act. Out Of it all may come
something constructive and beneficial
to the people as whole. Whether in
territorial or not when the Minette
act was passed and approved by for
mer Governor Eberhart a burden of
better than $1,OO0,000 in the shape of
additional toll charges was inflicted
by the companies on the telephone
using public. During the period be-
tween the approval of the act and the
date it became operative toll rates
were raised from 80 to so per cent
and the profits of the companies have
been climbing as result. 1t is not
generally known that more than one
legislative contest had as its basis
promised relief from this burden and
it is here where the promoters of a
public utility hope to realize. Here,
they point out, is the best opportunity
ever to place on the statute books a
line of needed public relief several
times attempted but never accom-
plished because of interference on the
part of the big utilities. Minnesota is
one of the few states without law of
any kind regulating the control and
operation of it's water powers. Such
are now the most valuable asset of a
state. Wire power companies are
likewise without any general control.
There are other utilities just as i'm
portant and the big bill, when drafted,
will cover them all.
Eric L. Thornton of Benson will en-
deavor to pilot the Republican forces
of the state to victory this fall. He
was named chairman of the Repub-
lican state central committee at re-
cent meeting of party nominees and
his selection was without opposition.
Mr.. Thornton is an old Twin City
newspaper man. Josiah Chase of Min
neapolis was named secretary OF the
committee and Fred Snyder OF the
same city treasurer. In the makeup
of the committee practically an entire
new bunch was selected. Few of the
old guard were chosen. The new COM
mittee is undeniably followers of 1. A..
Caswell, who is now very much in the
party saddle. While the Republican
nominees. were completing their or
ganization the Democrats and Pro-
hibitionists also held meetings for the
same purpose, but the Democrats de-
laved action until July 27. The Pro-
hibitionists elected o. o. Stageberg of
Red Wing chairman and C. A. Fowble
of Mahtomehdi vice chairman. w. G..
Calderwood of Minneapolis is chair
man of the executive committee and
George D. Haggard of Minneapolis is
vice chairman. John A. Shields is sec
rotary and w. C. Thompson secretary.
Thomas Frankson, though the win
ner of the Republican contest for lieu
tenant governor, will have to protect
his right in the court. He has been
attacked in the Ramsey county dis
trict court by number of followers
of James Peterson of Minneapolis, one
of his rivals, who made charges that
Frankson violated the corrupt prac-
tees act in spending more than the
law permits. Under its terms can
didate for lieutenant governor is linn
tied to an expenditure of $500. If
the charges can be proven it will elm
mate Mr.. Frankson as the party can
didate for the office at the fall cleo
ton. The st. Paul man put up a
spectacular advertising campaign and
this is largely responsible for the
many rumors concerning his expendi-
lures. He says that the cost was
within the limit and that he is not
worrying over the outcome. Capitol
circles generally believe that the at