The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-06-25
THE CORPORATION COMMISSION.

The time has come when the people Of okla
homa must seriously consider whether or not
the state corporation commission is worth It's
cost They must, II they would demonstrate
their ability to protect their own Interests. go
further and determine whether or not II has
not como to stand as their grcatoat enemy In
controlling the public utility concerns It was
created TO curb.
The World is strongly inclined To tho view
that unless the commission IN renamed by
gentlemen honorably committed to the service
OF the many instead Of the employments Of tho
few. tho public safety requires that II he abol-
ished and the taxpayers relieved OF further ox-
pense for it's maintalnancc.
The record OF the commission since Judge
Humphreys resigned from It soon after tho
signing of the armistice, Is not one that ua
members can point to with pride In no case
that we can rcca., has the commission failed
TO hold with tho public utilities. The resdlt
Is that II is very much under suspicion and
at least ono former cmploye boldly charges It
with being dominated by the gas trust and the
telephone trust--about the only remaining
porations that the excgcncies OF government ad-
minis,ration left under Its controi
The public is familiar with the record Of the
advance has been accorded the gas company.
and not once has the gas company been forced
to recognize tho slightest responsibility TO the
public. Indeed, through its attorney II boldly
pleaded before the commission that II had never
assumed the slightest responsibility TO furnish
an adequate amount OF gas to Its patrons, and
that II could not be loaded with that RESPONSE
bty Nor was It rebuked.
called Burleson telephone rates and practices;
how soon the government took over tho
telephone lines rates werc outragcously ad-
vanoed. petty charges for services that had
hitherto been n part OF tho fixed expense were
passed on to patrons and general set Of rules
governing administration were installed that
must have made Lenine and Trotzky wonder
at their moderation, These, It was explained
by the suavo Mr.. Rurelson. we're war measures
The war. however. is over yet these objection
able rates and charges in great part remain
The commission admits that something like
two thousand protests have becn filed by Indig-
nant patrons OF tho telephone company; II did
conduct "A so-called hearing. But who has
heard OF any order putting tho telephone trust
back on the pre-war basis with respect to rules
and charges?
general OF Oklahoma, November Pa, 1919
acting attorney for the commission
At that time he drew up an order for the COM
mission to sign revokng the Burleson rates and
practices and placing squarely on tho telephone
company responsibility for delcnquncies In ser
vice generally complained Of 1t is, or should
he. sgnificant Of much that has since transpircd
that Judge Thravcs' order as was rejected and
that a few days later the commission actually did
sign and promulgate an order drawn up by the
telephone company itself which order continued
in force and effect the Burlcson rates and prac-
tces.
Judge Thraves Is authority for the statement
that the result has been 10 enable the telephone
company to collect and accumulate a net sur
plus OF $3.50, 900 in excess OF the amount they
were permitted under pre-war rates and prac.
tces.
We are of the opinion that no moro pressing
issue confronts the voters OF Oklahoma than the
issue thus created by the decisions Of their
corporation commission II appears to be not
only tremendously expensive, but positive
menace to the people.
What Is TO be done about it7
r. tyt,N.A tN.,,A