The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-07
Mutual Telephone Men Take
Troubles to the Governor.
Object to the Actions of the
Utilities Commission.
THEY Hold HIM RESPONSIBLE
Personnel of the Body Is of His
Creation.
Executive Says He Can't Do a
Thing About 1t.

Kansas mutual telephone men are
after the public utilities commission
Their grievances were today checked
up to Governor Capper- The state
executive is held responsible for the
acts of his commission. If the com
mission persists in its stand which has
aroused mutual phone operators
well. the governor can work ont his
own salvation.
Three typewritten pages were re-
quired to set forth the complaint of
the mutual owners The complaint
was sent directly to Governor Capper
Following receipt of the communica-
not interfere with the affairs of the
commission or seek to dictate its poll
cies or action. Personally. ne said, ne
was inclined to favor the mutuals.
It is not sympathy. though. that the
mutual CONF pa mics are hunting. They
want relief from the interference
regulations and restrictions of Joseph
l. Rristow and the state commission
Complaints today were to the effect
that the mutual com PAL MES have been
EN- barrassed- handicapped and placed
at great and unnecessary expense
through hearings based on unjustified
and dnfounded and unwarranted COM
plants. Regulations of the commits
sions. it was further assorted, handi-
capped the companies in the handling
OF their business
No Way to Reach II.
There is no way to reach the COM
mission through direct vote Of the
people, it was pointed out Conse-
quentIy the appointing power-the
governor-was hell responsible That
was the decision which the mutual
telephone men took at their recent
annual meeting in Manhattan.
The protest to the governor today
was signed by J. 3. Shields of Lost
Springs. president, and NJ. H Pee of
Delphos. secretary-treasurer of the
Kansas Mutual Telephone association.
The comm issIonerS have caused the
mutual telephone companies large and
unnecessary expense to attend hear
ings of unsupported charges as in the
case of the Barnes company" the
complaint recites. They have by
dilatory tactics and unlawful instruc-
tons kept citizens of the state from
organizing mutual companies as in the
ElmdaIe situation
Their curbing of the activities of
the mutual companies by their actions
upon rented telephones and upon toll
4 service, We deem direct violation of
the exemption clause of the law es-
tablishing the utilities commission.
AS long as a mutual company is
operated only for the mutual benefit
of its subscribers without profit other
than in the service rendered. the Etil :
tues COMMISSION mas no jurisdiction as
we understand the law.
I'VE write this to you because it
becomes necessary to fix a RESPONSE
bility and to seriously bring these
matters to your excellency's personal
and official attention. directly placing
responsibility upon the one person
solely responsible for the official ex-
istence of the personality of the pub
lie utilities commission. We consider
their acts to be your acts and we do
hereby declare your responsibility for
the official acts of those you have ap-
pointed to the office and who do not
owe their official position to the votes
of the public
The communication came to the
| governor today. He declared that he
I could not personally interfere in the
work of the state commission. even
though the members had been ap-
pointed by him.
Il cannot interfere or seek to die
tate to the commission" said the gov
ernor. -All 1 can do is to appoint
the members. Personally 1 am in
clined to favor the mucuaI companies
But I cannot dictate the action of the
commission
All of which leaves the matter up to
( the state commission TO work out its
4 salvation as best il can