The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-10-11
STATE RIGHTS
ARE THREATENED

Chairman Shaugnnessy OF tue we
vada publis service commission de-
clares that the meeting of the Ma
tional Association of Railway and
Public Service Commissions to be
held at indianapolis, Indiana, October
1917. is the most important gathering
of the kind ever held in the country
and that If funds can be arranged,
Nevada should be represented. He
says:
Because peace-time legislation is
now under way before congress for
private operation at the n OF the
current year and for the further
regulation of the railroads. practi-
cally every large railroad. industrial
and financial interest in the country
is engaged in a campaign to destroy
the rights and jurisdiction of the
state. Efforts will be made. in fact
bills have been introduced in congress,
which, If they pass, take the railroads
almost completely away from the
jurisdiction of the states. and there
after the people will find themselves
powerless to exercise any rights ove
their own domestic commerce through
the medium of their initiative and ref
erendum. their legislatures and their
courts and commissions. or by any
means other than through congress or
a bureau at Washington. d. C. The
sovereign power of the state and u
dual form of government hangs in the
balance. Unless the people wake up
and take action for the protection OF
their rights the time is close at hand
when all effective and worthwhile
rights of local self-government will
have been withdrawn and centralized
government from Washington substi-
tuted."
Mr.. Shaughnessy states that be-
cause of the last legislatures reduc-
ton of the commissions appropria-
ton from ten thousand or five thou
sand dollars 1t is doubtful If the state
can have representation at the Indi-
annapolis conference. He points that
the commission has been compelled
to reduce its force during the current
year by taking off its engineer and
n of the regular clerical employees.
notwithstanding the increased duties
by giving the commission jurisdic-
ton over auto, stage and trucking
companies. He declares that as a re-
suit of wartime prices of materials,
supplies and labor. practically every
utility is asking for increased rates,
thus increasing the number of cases
before the commission for action APP
p~roximately three hundred per cent
over normal. pre-war years. BY way
of contrast he points out that Arizona
has three full-time commissioners
and secretaries. auditor, rate expert,
engineer, reporter and stenographers
making up a total force Of fifteen of
ficers and employees. as compared to
Nevada's M full-time commissioner,
two part-time commissioners, one Sec
rotary and two stenographers.
The attorney-genral is preparing
papers in mandamus proceedings to
be brought in supreme courts in an
endeavor to have made applicable to
the public service department an ad-
ditional fund of $500. which is car
ried in the general appropriation act
for the support Of the railroad and
public service commissions. but which
the state controller holds is not ap-
plicable because the public service
commission law was amended to in
clude the former railroad commission
act, and carries a separate appropria-
ton of only five thousand dollars.