Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-25

placed under the control of the mayor
or city council.
They suggested as an alternative
that the membership of the present
state commission be increased in Or
der that some of the members might
devote their attention exclusively to
Chicago problems.
Mr.. Gillespie said he would favor
the appointment of members of the
state commission or of both the state
and Chicago commissions if second
body were created, by the supreme
court of Illinois instead Of by the gov
ernor. He offered this suggestion as
a means of insuring freedom from
political influences.
I'VE have had some experience with
local regulation and believe 1t is best
for the public and for the utility COM
panies to have the power of regula-
ton vested in some competent body
appointed by the governor" said Mr..
Schaefer. "A sample Of our experien-
ces in local regulation was when the
city of Belleville annexed a narrow
strip of land six miles long and $500
feet wide for no other reason than to
make the traction company give a s.
cent fare, which the courts later held
to be confiscatory.
THE present state commission has
been overworked. 1t will do better
when the first flood of complaint is
disposed Of. Perhaps conditions would
warrant the appointment Of two com
missions, one to take care of Chicago
and the other of downstate utilities.
Or perhaps the membership of the
commission should be increased.
Wants State Rule.
Il am firmly of the opinion that all
commissions should be appointed by
the state in order that they may be
Independent of local influences.
"The present commission has decid-
ed everything with reasonable prompt
ness and with reasonable fairness. It
was handicapped at the start by not
having sufficient funds to hire enough
experts and assistants.
1T is unfair to have a case tried by
an interested Judge. Home rule CIV
ing municipalities the power to ap-
point commissioners would mean that
a court and jury would be appointed
from men interested either for COM
panies or against them.
Control of the issuance of seCuri-
ties by the present commission has
had very beneficial effect"
Mr.. Gillespie said downstate cities
could not easily provide sufficient
funds to make such Investigations as
would be necessary under home rule.
East st. Louis has as many util
tiles as any city in the state outside
of Chicago" said Mr. Gillespie. ITO
give this city home rule would be to
put very burdensome expense on the
city, especially since under the state
commission the same results could be
obtained.
q do not know why the appoint
ment of members of commission
could not be made by the supreme
court, although l know such propos-
al would meet with strong opposition
in the legislature. There would be
less likelihood of political influence in |
the courts.
"The present exemption of munich |
pallv owned utilities from the regula- |
ton of the state commission should |
be removed. 1t is not right to allow |
a plant owned by a city to be operated |
at loss.
Urges State Rule.
"In my judgment the rest of the
state is not especially interested in the
problems of Chicago. AS theoretical
proposition, however, the same power
that controls downstate utilities.
should control in Chicago
In opening the hearing, Repres1n-
tative Mccormick said that whenever
Chicago has made demand in the
past for home rule it has been con-
fronted with the assertion that down
state cities should be given the same
right.
He said it was the purpose of the
1ownstate hearings to find out just
what the sentiment is.