New-York tribune., 1920-09-05
Public Utility
Meeting Called
For November.
National Conference at
Washington to Take Up
Problems Relating to
Various Com missions
Upholds State Authority
Warming Issued Against At
tempts to Interfere i'm
Strictly Local Cases

The official call for the thirty-second
annual convention Of the National As
sociation Of Railway and Utilities Com
missioners has been issued by Walter
A. Shaw, Of Illinois. president; James
B. Walker, Of New York, secretary, and
Dwight N. Lewis, Of Iowa, chairman Of
the executive committee. The meeting
will be held in Washington. in the
rooms Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, beginning November and
continuing four days.
The address Of welcome will be de-
livered by Edgar E. Clark. chairman
Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Other addresses will be
delivered by Mr.. Shaw, president
Of the association; Clyde B. Aitch-
ison, Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and George W. Anderson,
formerly a member Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and now judge
Of the United States Court in Massa-
ehusetts. The association embraces all
the public service and railro&d COM
missions Of the country. There are
fifty-one commissions in the United
States and its territories. There is q
commission in every state, with the
exception of Delaware; and in some
statks, like New York, there are two
commissions. There is also a commits
sion In Alaska. Hawaii and the Philip
pine Islands.
Seventeen Committees to Report
The association has seventeen stand
ing committees. which will report on
topics concerning the public regula-
tion OF corporations. Among the Sub
Jects to be treated are: Public owner
ship and operation, safety of railroad
operation, safety Of operation Of pub
s1ic utility companies, railroad service.
accommodations and claims, railroaA
rates, public utility rates, car service
sna demurrage, express companies,
statistics and accounts, grade cross
Ings' capitalization and state and Fed
eral legislation. These reports will be
discussed on the floor of the conven-
sion. AS q departure from the usual
program, the convention will devote
~wo afternoon sessions to informal or
round-table discussion Of the gubiacta
OF local street railway and interurban
transportation, the gas problem and
enforcement Of service standards.
IN the call for the convention atten-
tion IS drawn to the efforts to minimize
the influence Of state commissions and
tne movement by certain interests to
seek freedom from state control. on
this subject the call saws:
This association has not and newer
can nave any quarrel with Federal reg
uiatlon In the field Of Federal jurisdic-
ticn. 1t has repeatedly placed itself
or record as in favor of the closest co.
operation between the states and the
interstate Commerce Commission. But
IL resents the efforts Of those who seek
20 curtail the rightful powers of the
sovereign states over strictly intra-
staee matters, and who would have the
Federal government decide whether
ststion which the local authorities CON
slider necessary.
Upholds State Authority
"The Esch- -Cummins act in the con-
terence stage practically gave this
power TO the Federal commission, and
some interested parties are now trv-
ing to read it into the law under cover
OF the provisions governing expendi-
lures. The danger was exposed by the
alert general solicitor of the associa-
zion at Washington, and was averted
bX- the prompt action of some of the
leading committees Of this body.
Against such attempts 30 disarm
tho states this association must be con-
stantly on its guard. 1t is only fair
to state that the Interstate Commerce
Commission itself has not shown any
disposition to encroach upon the state
field. and it's chairmen frequently have
urged closer cooperation between Fed
eraI and state commissions. In the
recent advanced rate case three state
commissioners selected by this asso.
citation at the invitation Of the Federal
commission sat with it. The associa-
tion is earnestly desirous Of continu-
ing these harmonious relations, but it
will stand firm, in the future as in the
past. for the right Of each state to
control in matters Of purely local reg
ulation."