Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-24
JUDGE WADE TO
ARB|TRAIE CASES
INCREASED COST OF PRODUCE
TON OF GAS BRINGS GRIEF
TO FEDERAL BENCH.
JUDGE WADE THINKS THAT HE
WILL HAVE TO DON GAS MASK
Federal Court Swamped with Gas and
Electric Rate Disputes and State
Arbitration Board to Settle All Of
Them is Suggested by Jurist-WouId
Have Litigation Expense.

The gas rate case originating here
and at other points in the state, which
| have been carried into the federal
| court, is causing much grief to the
members o fthe bench. Judge NJ. j.
Wade had not only the local case to
hear, but also a case from Fairfield,
and has determined that the cases
should be arbitrated by a board OF
arbiters. The court feels that much
expense litigation could be avoided.
A story from Des Moines, relative to
the situation as it exists follows:
Des Moines, May 24.-The increased
cost Of production has deluged the fed
eral court for the southern district of
Iowa with applications from gas and
electric companies seeking relief and
asking authority to increase their rates
on account of the increase in the cost
OF production brought about by war
conditions.
Wednesday afternoon the time OF
Judge Wade was occupied in hearing
applications from Fairfield and Mar
shalltown. Besides these there are
proceedings pending from Oskaloosa,
Ottumwa, Perry and other places,
along the line.
Will Need Gas Mask.
In the course of the proceedings
Judge Wade facetiously said that
if this thing kept up he would have
10 get him a gas mask and called at
tention to the fact that it is utterly
impossible for a single judge 10 find
time to give attention to the mass of
details and testimony that would have
to be gone thru in each case; that it
would take d Te5iITlent of judges II
handle il He went on to say:
y have been wondering for some
time whether il would not be posi-
bio tc- the cites hsS"!2g rate disputes
tand there are some eight or ten of
them now before this COURT TO agree
upon some plan for a board Of aroitra-
ton to determine temporarily at least
the rates which should be paid for gas
or electricity or other public service.
We all realize that we are going thru
period Of rapid change, and that any
decree now entered upon a trial before
the court must be more or less tenn
porary. After the war is won, cond!-
tons will necessarily require a new
investigation and new adjustment.
Litigation OF this kind is very ex-
pensive and delays are agsraVating
We are passing thru period when
these problems must be considered by
the citizens upon the one hand and
by the public utility companies upon
the other in proper spirit, witnou.
feeling or resentment, but with an
honest effort to try to provide for =
fair basis pending this war.
Proposes to Select Board
in TRUTH something must be done.
1t will be absolutely Impossible for the
court to try each of these cases
separately and / have felt thar II
would be possible for the court to
select a board of three or five men of
admitted ability in rate matters who
could at least make an investigation
and report to the city and to the COM
pany, which might be acceptable for
the present
4 believe that even if such a board
would make an investigation and re-
port without any agreement 10 be
binding upon either party, it might
clear them way for an intelligent and
far adjustment for temporary pur-
poses.
1T is TO be regretted that some plan
for a utilities board has not been pro-
vided in this state to avoid the neces-
sity of long and expensive trials in the
courts to determine what rates ought
m ne naid for pltDlic service.