The New York herald., 1921-02-07
Public Service Commissions
in Good Favor in Va
riOus Sections.
MORE POWER FOR SOME
Clamor in Missouri Against
Great Rises, but Situation
Could Have Been Worse. .
Special Despatch TO THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald bureau.
Albany a.

New York Herald bureau.
Albany, Feb. o.
Before recommending to the Legis-
iature that the Public Service Commits
sions be reorganized with greater
power and the rapid transit law re-
enacted and teeth put into 1t, Gov.
Miller had the opinions of nearly forty
Governors and the experiences of as
many States to bark him. There was
no snap Judgment in his action
1t happened that Arkansas in De-
cember last took up the question OF
State regulation of public utilities
through public service commission.
Gov Charles II. Brohgh of Arkansas
wanted to know what other States had
done in extending the powers of such
commissions and he sent out letter
TO all of the Governors.
Copies OF the answers were given 10
Gov. Miller when the latter tackled the
problem and some of these were MADE
public to-day at the Executive Cham
Der. Here are some of the opinions OF
the Governors on this subject:
Albert e. Sleeper, Michigan; believe
our commission, created in 1919. has
been almost indispensable to welfafe OF
the State. state regulations certainly
should be perpetuated."
Alfred e. Smith, New York: AT first
there were some conflicts in jurisdiction
between the commission and localities.
but practically all of such defects In the
law have been remedied by legislative
amendment or by Interpretation by the
courts l think / am justified in saying
that the system has worked very salts
factorily in this State
New Hampshire Satisfied.
John II. Bartlett, New Hampshire:
I'VE are well satisfied with our Public
Service Commission, and believe that IL
Is the best way to regulate utilities.
l.. j. Frazier. North Dakota Board
of Railroad Commissioners, consisting of
three members, regularly controls and
fixes rates, charges and services of all
public utilities. l believe that it is nee
essary to have some board with power
to make these regulations"
James NJ Cox, Ohio: I'VE have had
a most satisfac actory experience with our
Public Utilities Commission, in fact our
State could not have done without it,
Henry i. Long. secretary to Gov.
Coolidge Massachusetts,: mo intention
in Massachusetts of doing away with
this commission. which has proven its
usefulness"
r. Livingston Beeckman. Rhode ISL
and Find our Public Utilities Com
mission of three members a great sue
cess and can see no reason for abolish
ing the same"
Louis F. Hart, Washington: "Our ex-
perience with this commission has been
most satisfactory and it's work has been
or incalculable benefit TO the people Of
our State both in regulating rates ard
service: lowering the former and raising
the standard of the latter"
William c. Sproul, Pennsylvania: I'VE
have in this State a Public Service Com
mission which has been extremely useful.
We would not think OF abollshing it."
III. u. Carey, Wyoming: 1T would
seem to me for any State to do away
with its public utilities commission
would be a step backward. II Is my
intention to ask our Legislature to in
crease the powers of our commissioners.
although they have accomplished much
under the present law"
Percival w. Clement, Vermont: II am
recommending increased authority and
facilities to enable commission to In
vestigate more thoroughly affairs that
come TO IL for approval or regulation.
John J. Cornell. West Virginia: This
state has had similar commission regu-
lating all public utilities for ten years.
II Is indispensable and there IL no senu-
ment for repeal of the law"
r. ID. Boyle Nevada: I'VE consider
the public Service Commission an in
dispensable department; first. because 1t
keeps public service corporations out OF
politics: second. because Improperly and
intelltgently represents State before IN
terstate Commerce Commission on all In
terstate rates affecting our people third,
because Il effects by informal methods
satisfactory adjustments of interstate
rates and services; fourth. because IL
shuts out improper and destructive COM
petition and fifth. because II saves our
industries and people hundreds OF thou
.ands Of dollars annually l may OBJ
serve that there Is just the same need for
state public Service Commission now
as existed before the passage OF the
Esch Cummins bill"
Rates Raised In Missouri.
= -. Gardner Missouri: I'VE have
IN rhta State n Public Service Commits
sIon OF Ave members. They have been
compelled. owing TO high cost of every
thing 20 grant increased rates TO public
utility ,orporati tions. This has raised, of
course A ciamor over the state. but
thougntfui people and those who have
studied tho situation. IN my judgment.
realize that the situation would have
been far worse without n Public Service
Commission. I most assuredly feel that
the service commission in. an important
and necessary adjunct Of State gov
ernment.'
NJ II. Hocoinb. Connecticut: Dis
pcnsinr with the commission would not
be considered"
Oliver H. Shoup. Colorado: Our cx-
pericnce on account of rate advances
necessitated by abnormal operating
costs has been similar 20 that of other
state commissions but people Of Col
orado on the whole have evidenced con-
fdence In commission and It's work.
L. M. Russell. Mississippi. "We are
highly pleased with tho work of our
bond Improvement commission. We
could not operate these big enterprises
without them. our people arc thor
oughly satisfied with this commission
and would not do without H."
Edwin r. Morrow. Kentucky: Ten
dency Of legislation to increase powers
and scope into general public utility
commission including telephone, tele-
graph. natural gas"
u. w. Davis. Idaho I'VE expect TO
continue this commission as / believe 1t