The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-08-24
CONTROL OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES
OBJECT OF BILLS TO COME BE-
FORE THE NEXT SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE
STATE BOARD IS PROBABLE
GENERALIZATION WOULD DO
AWAY WITH SCORES OF
LOCAL COMMISSIONS

LOCAL COMMISSIONS
St. Paul, Aug. 22-This is an era
of Capitalization, and the fact is due
to be emphasized at the coming ses-
sion of the Minnesota legislature,
when numerous bills covering many
subjects and calling for such centrali-
zation and control will be introduced.
A number are in preparation now.
Many things heretofore regarded as
purely local are involved. For in
stance, the water powers of the state,
which are now even without local or
state control, the transmission of
power, light and heat, better control
of the telephone and telegraph COM
panies operating in the state, the
transmission of electrical energy of
all kinds and the regulation of water
companies whose operations extend
beyond their source of supply. Two
prominent members Of the senate are
reported to be collaborating on bill
that will embrace everything men
toned and there are other members
of both the house and senate who are
directing their energies toward the
GENERALIZATION Of other lines of en-
deavor. Of course all this can only
result in one thing, the creation of a
commission, something abhorrent to
many who believe that the state is
overburdened with commissions, but
it has to come. Other progressive
states are doing it and minnesota
eventually will have to fall in line.
While it may add to the burdens of
the state it will mean the killing off
of a horde of commissions and boards
whose pickings are the villages, towns
and cities where the activities men
toned operate and to which the local
consumers contribute. That the meas
ures contemplated will have opposi-
ton on the part of the commercial
activities concerned is certain, but
those behind the movement do not in
tend to let such worry them. They
declare such Capitalization to be a
progressive move and of undoubted
benefit to every taxpayer and patron
of the utilities named. The bills pro-
posed are going to be among the prin-
cipal activities of the next legislature.
Continuing on this subject of CEN
tralization and consolidation two bills
are under draft which will have for
their object the consolidation of the
several state departments having to
do with game and fish and forestry.
One of these will likely be the prod
uct of the new efficiency and econ
omy commission. Another will bring
under one head the state insurance
and fire departments, and still an
will attempt the creation of a depart
ment of public domain. Under it will
be gathered those activities generally
agreed as beyond the legitimate
sphere of the state auditor. These ac-
tivities include the state lands, timber
and minerals. So you see it is going to
be busy session of the legislature
and one fraught with much good for
the state at large if the legislation
mentioned gets by. There is not
county in the state that has not a
water power of some kind, the energy
of which if put to work would be of
incaluculable value to every lacality.
If the control and regulation of these
utilities alone prevails something to-
ward the carrying out of the new idea
vii have been accomplished. Then,
too, there are the telephone compa-
nies of the state. While the state has
control, such control cannot be said
to be entirely on the side of the peo-
pie. This will have to be corrected.
Representative L. c. Spooner of Nor
ris is said to have some decided views
concerning the handling of the latter
and when he gets busy you can expect
to see the fur flying.
Word received by Minnesota Demo-
cratic leaders is to the effect that |
President Wilson has put his foot |
down on a general campaign tour of |
the United State preliminary to the
November election. However, he will |
be available on invitation and might
accept a calf to speak in St. Paul
in October. That the invi-
tation will be extended is certain and
it is probable that the arrangements
for his visit and reception will be
placed in the hands of F. B. Lynch,
the national committeeman. Mr.. Lynch
is now in the East.
Governor Burnquist has not yet
taken unto himself private secre-
tary of his own political faith, all of
which is not worrying C. M. Andrist,
The Democratic incumbent in the least.
Close friends of the governor, how
ever, think he should close up the gap