The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-15
CHAIRMAN GARAETT
MAKES 4 STATEMENT
Commission, He Says--Sfembers
Differ In Points of View.

Chairman Christopher r. Garnett.
of the state corporation commission.
last night gave The virginian a state
ment to the effect that there is no
friction among members OF the COM
mission, as had been reported. though
they hold different points of view in
regard to the appropriations which
they should ask from the general as
st mbly. The statement reads:
Upon my return to the city from
ashington, where | have been at
tending conference held by the valu-
alton committee OF the interstate COM
Tnercs commission In the matter OF
the valuation OF the Norfolk & South
ern railroad in Norfolk, my attention
has been called to a statement issued
by Judge William r. Rhea, with ref
erence TO the request which has been
made to the legislature OF Virginia
for an additional appropriation to the
state corporation commission.
Judge RheA is correct in Stain
| that there has been no friction in the
commission on account OF the appro-
! priations asked, but he is incorrect in
stating that the appropriation asked
| of the general assembly was asked
! for by only one member Of the com
mission. The original paper which
Was nled by me before the finance
committee OF the senate and the ap-
preparations committee of the house
was not orr signed by myself but was
also signed by former Commissioners
! J. Richard Wingaeld and by present
Commissioner Alexander Forward
This paper requested the creation of
a legal department to cost Ave thou
sand dollars, OF civil engineer at "A
salary of $4,000, of two assistant en-
/ gineers or inspectors at salaries OF
/ $500 each. an accountant at n sal
airy Of 81, 800. n rate expert at a sal
airy OF $4,000, and necessary file clerk.
and photographers for which provision
should be made in the contingent
fund.
1T is true that Judge Rhes refused
to sign this paper, but he never in.
d'cated 10 me that he would actively
oppose the request From his state.
ment in this mornings Virginian /;
is evident that he does not consider
the request reasonable. In nv view
the requests which have been made
are not really sufficient for the pur-
poses for which the corporation com.
mission was created For puhlL
: utility regulation as 10 rates and ser.
I N'@ }A8 th1EiIlltSA}eQ hA3 AT 1TeSSnl
a STAFF Of one rate clerk. one engi,
neer and one-half the time OF an
othsr clerk. The request made BY
the commission was for an Increase
Of this force BIZ giving ua a legal de-
partment, a civil engineer. two assist.
ant engineers, an accountant and =
rate expert. It lie worth while 10 note
that the force employed by the state
, of West Virginia for public utility reg.
ule-.on consists Of about eighteen men
whereas the force employed in VIZ.
ginia for the purpose, as has already
been shown, consists of three mon
and IN the state Of Maryland the
force employed by that commission
!. In public utility regulation IS forty.
two men, whc- the force err ployat
r. I'll state OF Virginia is three men
Il am authorized ~ EomAi sionef
Forward to state that he sin approvet
thu original request which was made
before the finance COMMITTEES Of the
senats and me appropriations com.
rntttee Of the house"