The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-03-05
4 Law authorizing the State Corporation Commission to
Regulate Public Utilities Would Be of Value to New Mexico

~ tR STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION,
Under e1i<ting conditions, u not aver
tursir1asd with responsibility Or business
Since the fn,Ifus5s are 10 The hands Of the govern
mfnt ~ railroad work y eenterned chiefly with
kdjnsfnsrff o. minor tnffic difftulties. II dDrs
this work carefully and we'll hut the siais could
p~rofisably enti1st Il with more important bust
nes-.
We have = Wholly unnecessary state department
Of in-sfenee, ~hish carriuA with II NJ unnecessary
salary ~ two snd a contingent account This de-
pariment could be consolidated with The corpora
ton corm's>'on with profit TO The sfafe aud TO the
benefit u insurn1tc regulation
Even more inporiani aud Of far more value
wonid b. The passage q . law empowering the
state rorpefni,on csmmlstion 70 supervise aud reg
nIeie pubic gtillty corporations operating in New
Mexico. which corporations are now a law unto
themselves
The powers ~ the state corporation commits.
sion a. 10 the supervision u The service and rates
II public utility corporations are nov 10 vague rs
10 be practically useless. There "a pending before
the lower houst AZ ssuia Pc a bin which would
confer definite powers upon The commission per.
hitting general supervision % corporations opcrat-
ing under franchise granted by the people. and to
investigate aud regulate rates charged As matters
now stand a public utility corporation in this state.
once granted q franchise, IL practically free Of n.
pervisien or regulation In It's relations with the
public Il serses- during the life Of the franchise.
The only chance At regulation Of rates or service the
people have i at the time the franchise is granted.
or when Il may b. renewed
Recently street ear fares IN Albuquerque were
raised 20 . cents nnder The plea Of war conditions.
increased costs for labor, electric current. etc. Al
the time the increase was made II appeared just. II
may still BE- just 10 continue the existing rate. The
state corporation commission should have definite
power, upon petition 81 = reasonable number of
citizens 70 make a thorough Investigation aud 10
ascertain whefhFr such rate stnl is fair and just
10 the public. This matter % street railroad fares
locally is used - an instance of The opportunity for
definite public service which the corporation com.
mission might he able 10 perform
During the progress Of the war. the local rates
charged for electric current, were increased. upon
the plea ~ increased cost Of coal. materials. labor.
etc. Nearly anything went during the war. ana
II is entirely probable thar the rate advances made
were Justified at least in part. II has been alleged
frequently that these advances were not justified.
Certainly this particular puolic service corporation
and no other organization serving the whole com-
muniif. vould object 10 n fair public Investigation.
nj which al the facts would be- brought out aud
costs determined with a view 20 establishing rates
that are iustto al cnncsrned.
A matters now stand The pnblir service cof-
pornfi0u IN New Mexico may establish Whatever
rate il chooses for ~ particular Kind Of service