Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-22
ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS AP'
pGAA sEFoRE JOINT CON-
N,TrgE or LEGISLATURE.
posMr TO ADVANTAGE
co0poRATIoNs WOULD GAIN
c,aim Dill Lodging Rate Control IN
oAsNs Railroad Commission Would
9emjoste Homo Rule and Would
o,vs Companies Chance to Re-
pvdists EXISTING Contracts.
spec,a, 70 Times Hepublican.


| Des Moines. FEB. 2..--The propose"
pueIic utilities bill placing the rate
making power on puolie utilities in 'He
hands of the state railroad commis-
.ion va. discussed by represent .e7
Of Iowa municipalities in an "pe"
meeting before the joint utilities CON-
,n,,tse NJ the senate and house IN one
AZ the senate committee rooms tr''H
afternoon.
Tbi. biII has not set been introduced
but printed copies % the prvposS"
m.asur. are before the Legislators. IAt
DISCUSSION Friday. 1t w.s annouhC CT
Nv Chairman Frank Thompson. % inc
senate committee was 10 learn -,
objections OF the opponents of me OIL.
& Repre- sentatiNes of cities who 'a'"''
the Dill however also appeared.
The most serious objection - '"s
n,.onosed bill as voiced by UJmh'.
az speakers is that the oil Would WI
eject destroy existing contracts in
,hat-it would permit the utilities com
psnies To 20 TO the comm -ssioh viea
by the measure and ask relief from
conditions they OBJECT 10 IN lhelF pres
!. on: contracts. whereas the cities are
asking no relief from existing con
tracts.
This objection was voiced PaI--
cn.srly By Corporation Counsel BY
Of Des Moines who said pn3AS
utility man had stated TO him 'Aal
one OF the purposes OF the measure
vas to obtain relief from existing con-
,iitions and contracts.
Frank F.. Betty. city attorney OF
Davenport. who spoke against the
proposed bill said hts city Vas getting
alons satisfactorily with its facilities
and he could see no reason for such
commission,
But If this Diu becomes a ia",
said Bettr. and the companT ere
fertinc 70 the water company ran
come here 10 Des Mo!nes and ask the
commission to relieve them u oh!iga-
tons to make certain extensions. iAeE
are certain TO make such a request
one purpose OF the proposed puoHl
utility commission is 20 enable utlii-
ties to get out Of promises they them
selves put in the franchise in order
TO have them ratified by the people
lakes POWER rom fSSPies
City Attorney Click. Of Dubuque
spoke against the proposed measure
saying that the terms of franchises
asked by utility corporations are now
fixed by vote OF the people. which IS
the only fair way. as they are tao ~
sons 10 make the terms of the con-
tract which Is TO affect them.
George Henry Kephart. city attorney
pf Sioux City, spoke in favor OF some
state commission with a corps OF ex-
perts 10 assist il TO pass on questions
which come up with regard to utilities.
Mayor NcNutt. Of Muscatine spoke
against control Of public utilities oy
other than Iocal authorities or me
communities themselves. He SAL n
should be remembered that the war 5
sofer and con dit!ous " which the it'll
ifIes have complained because OF the
wa no longer exist.
Corporation Counsel By~rs. OF De-
Moines. said the idea .,ndition would
DC when cities oW ned their own public
. utility plants.
Paul Gsylor. city attorney 81 Mount
Pleasant. declared the small eities oc
Iowa could do better under contracts
which they themselves made with the
CORPORATIONS Than under agreements
. reached thru appeals 20 state com
mission and { nat the small towns could
not hire the talent TO get the facts
necessary TO make showing before
The state commission necessary when
cvarroV ersies arose.
Richard Kepler city attorney Of
Toledo. said he thought some state
I commission could pass on these ques-
lions much better than the small town
could pass on them.