The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-03-09
A BUSINESS PROPOSITION

We have all heard the question OF
public utility rates. street car fares,
telephone rates and railroad rates
cussed and discussed. And no ques-
ton in the United States today more
directly affects every individual and
family in the nation No industry in
the country has had proportionately
as small advance in rates to meet in
creased cost Of operation as have the
public utilities.
A large majority of public utility
companies in the United States today,
have about reached the point Of the
farmers horse which. was fed on saw
dust; just about the time the farmer
had increased the amount of sawdust
In the horses grain to a point where
the grain was minus quantity, the
horse died so il was OF no use to the
farmer
Public utilities under state regula-
ton have been living on a constantly
diminishing rate of return until many
of them can show little or no profit
while others have been steadily op-
Grating at loss. This will eventually
bankrupt the best managed public ut
ility and the community which has
killed it's utility by starvation rates
will find itself in the same position
as the farmer who tried to save money
by feeding his horse sawdust. both
would be without the aid Of a faith
full servant.
California has seen where the star
walton rate policy is leading. Every
section Of that state is crying for
power which cannot be furnished for
the simple reason that public utility
companies have been unable to get
sufficient capital to make the needed
extensions. The people and public
officials have come to see that cheap
rates which prevent company from
developing and furnishing service are
the dearest rates that can be estab-
lished, for lack of power for factories
and irrigation purposes means loss Of
industries, payrolls and farm pro-
ducts.
Edwin A. Edgerton, president of the
California State Railroad Commits
sion in a. recent address outlined the
policy Of that body with respect to
the public utilities of California and
the message which he delivered must
meet with a symathetic response from
everyone having to do with those
utilities. either directly or indirectly
the public served as we'll as the
bond and stockholders whose capital
makes these great enterprises pos
sible. The keynote Of the policy of
the railroad commission to put the
public utilities upon a sound basis of
efficiency was expressed by Egderton
as follows: After eight years as rail
road commissioner. during which time
| have had full opportunity of obser-
walton of all the functions Of the COM
mission, can say without uuaiifica-
ton that the effort will be to bring
about good public utility service to
the people at reasonable cost and at
the same time to accord reasonable
profits to invested capital" Public
utilities of California have laid their
cards upon the table and the public
and railroad commission have become
convinced that the statements made
are true and that if California wishes
to get $2S0.000.OOO needed for in
creased hydro electric development
policies of state regula-
ton and encouragement to honest
must be adopted.
Every western state is in the same
position as California but most of
the other states have not met the
problem in this fair and open man
ner, The states which fail to recog-
nize the changed conditions will be