The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-12

OF the power company; conference
was held in this city between the
mayor city attorney, city auditor.
attorney general and members OF
the railroad commission.
SHORTY after the city was noti-
fed that the hearing could not be
held on July 10 because OF the illness
and inability OF the city engineer to
attend, etc. At the first meeting of
the city council thereafter. the city
attorney was authorized to advise
the attorney general that the council
would pay the expenses and this was
done.
ION August so inquiry was made
from the attorney general as to when
the hearing could be had, to which on
August l he replied that the audit
was practically completed, but max
ing no suggestions as to the date of
the hearing.
Under date Of September 3, the
attorney general was asked to ad-
wise as to the date of the hearing
and OF anything that could be done
by the city authorities to aid at the
hearing, to which under date Of Sep
TENDER 3, the attorney general re-
piled that a copy Of the audit would
be furnished as soon as received, but
no indication given of the date of the
hearing.
Under date of September II,
there was taken up with the attorney
general the matter Of gas service
pipes aggregating $4,000 pa3d for by
consumers, which was called by him
to the attention OF the engineers and
reply received from the attorney
general under date Of September 49,
"'Under date of September il the
board Of railroad commissioners
were asked to advise as to the pres
ent status of the proceedings and
the prospect Of immediate hearing,
to which they replied that the COM
munication had been referred to the
attorney general. Under date OF
September II he advised that the ac-
countauts were at work, but that
owing to the absence of employees
the audit was not completed and
there was no mention made Of the
hearing.
Under date OF September 26 the
attorney general was again asked II
he could give any idea when the
hearing would be held, to which he
replied under date OF September %
that he expected a report from the
accountants soon, but no suggestion
as to the date Of hearing is made
therein.
Under date Of October /. the at
torney general writes that he Is in
receipt of a report Of the accountants
and has asked them to send their
bill. which he would Immediately
forward to us and that as soon as
the same is allowed and paid the re-
port will be furnished to us.
Under date OF October 6, a tele-
gram was sent to the attorney gen.
eral advising him that the council
will meet Monday night and asking
If he could not get the bill SO that
1t could be paid and the date Of hear
ing set as early as possible.
Your committee feels that it is
unjust that the city should be asked
to bear any share OF the expenses of
the hearing; the only justification
for the exercise by the state OF the
power to fix the rate is because such
rates are a matter of state concern
and not a matter merely of local in
teTest: IL these rates were not a mat
ter of state importance, the state
would have no power to fix the rate.
and If the fixing of the rates is a
matter of state Importance, then,
quite clearly, the expense of the in
vestigations and hearings to fix the
rates ought to be borne by the state
at large; and such is the law in
other states; and such we believe to
be the law in this state, but the rail-
road commissioners have advised us
that they have no money and that
If we have a. hearing we must besc
this uujustifiable- burden.
"'Your committee believes that
this city, with other cities in the
state. ought to unite in the prepara-
ton of a comprehensive public
utility law to be presented to the
next meeting of the legislature for
enactment"