The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-07

1 employ experts and other persons to l appear as witnesses for the state waeD
 such rate cases come up. Under tfe present law the commission must de-
 eide case upon the testimony offered ] by the companies that are interested | in the case.
 | B H. Cooper, member of the pres
 ent commission. which is changed from | the Alabama public service commis- | sion to the Alabama railroad and pub | lie utilities commission under the bill
 a substitute for which was presented | for consideration "Wednesday. told in
 clear manner of the workings of the
 measure.
 EXPLAINS WORKINGS
 This legislation is suggested by the present commission as a prot ection 10 | the public of Alabama" said MF. f Cooper, in substance. He then told of the 1911 and 1907 laws, which per-
 nit the comm ission to have control of
 rates charged by railroads, telephone
 and telegraph companies, etc. The present legislation of the Conner ad- ministration will not be interfered with, he said, but additional powers will be given such as the regulation of securities issued by state corpora tions
 Another feature of the new bill .s 1 that an appeal from a decision of the
 commission is allowed. and this com
 mission believes this is right and just The measure will take care of ths public interest, but at the same time will be fair to corporations" Under the present laws this comnnis- sion has no money with which to employ attorneys and I doubt if we have author fty to force the bringing into this office of books. etc., continued MT. Cooper. He explained the fee that will be charged under the new bill, and which will bring in approximately s4o.0oo an- nually, thus making the commission self
 sustaining. The largest sum would be collected from the Louisville and Nash vile the amount being s2500. The amount
 is so distributed he said. as to work no financial hardship upon any company. Mir. Cooper went into details of the rate fights that are inevitable in Alabama. There is no money with which to employ attorneys and others to testify, after in vestigation of books, etc, for the state, I he said.
 1 The bill will increase salaries of the | commission, requiring each member to
 stay on the job in Montgomery. i ASHAMED OF STIPEND l J. O. Smith, attorney general, who as-
 sisted in drawing up the bill. told of a conference he had recently with attor- neys-general of several states at Chicago. l At this conference it was agreed that l important rate cases will soon come up, and he said he was ashamed to admit
 that Alabama gave only S95oo annually l to it's state commission.
 l If the state cannot provide funds enough for this commission to conduct I thorough investigations it should be abol- ! shed," said the attorney general, who 1 believed that the people of Alabama will 1 look to his office for protection when the rate cases come up. He stressed the ne-
 eessity of the legislature enacting suef
 a law. which will give the commission | broader powers.
 1 Ray Rushton. receiver for the Mont 1 gomery Traction company, and Lee Brad
 lev of the Birmingham Railway, Light and ! Power company, made speeches for tht 1 bill.
 Mir. Hornady and City Attorney Moore entered an objection against that fea
 ture Of the bill which gives authority tt the commission to regulate rates ant service of concerns which have contrac | with the cities.
 Mir Moore said it was time honoret custom to permit the cities to regulat
 their own utilities, and that this oii
 would take away the idea of home rule
 The substitute bill gives powers to tn municipalities. but takes away the rfsn
 to regulate rates. etc.
 | TEe committee is expected to make report on the next legislative day, whicl is Friday.