Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-01-20
Public SerUice Cor
pOr0tiO31s to Pay
Cost of Regulation
Hotel Rennert, Baltimore,
January I3,192l

a.
The Public Service Commission,
in many respects the most important
to the people Of all the commissions
which have to do with the State
government, is about to take certain
steps which should have been taken
long ago, and whose requirement
should really have been embodied in
the law which created the commits
SION. 1t is about to do what is done
in several States that is, make the
public service corporations pay in
whole or in par: the expenses incur
red in compelling them. to comply
with the law and perform their du-
ties to the public at large in accord
ance with their charter privilege.
Ever since there have been such or
CARNATIONS as corporations, they
have been in a constant struggle
with the public to obtain as much
money as possible and give as little
return as possible for that money.
From the time the first combination
of men was formed to do anything
which was directly or indirectly
paid for by the people at large, these
conflicting interests have been in a
practical state of war with each ct
her, and the war has continued down
TO the present day. The rapacity Of
all public service corporations
railway companies, gas and other
light companies, street railway com
panies, telegraph and telephone COM
panies, water companies, and other
organizations of similar character
has been proverbial and they have
been looked upon by the people az
dishonest gougers and robbers.
In several states the chief politi-
cal issues have been how 10 curb
the corporations, and this issue il
probably as alive today as il ever
was, and commissions have beer
created in nearly all the states Whose
chief duty is TO protect the people
from the rapacity Of the public utii
tiles companies and TO force them Il
deal fairly and honestly by all
Maryland has one Of these commits
sions, and there il no doubt tha
the gentlemen who make un th,
commission are doing their utmost
to see that even-handed- justice il
meted out TO all and 10 overcom,
the many aud great difficulties IL
their way, for they receive no hell
from the corporations. bat the con
trary. The corporations were or
posed to the creation Of the com
mission, they are opposed TO il nov
and are unwilling 10 do anything L
aid in the performance OF It's work.
The National Government re-
@s~nks 70 las the expense,
incurred IN their examination and
regulation, and the States eompe
I the purely State banks 10 do ths
same. Several Of the states require
the corporations TO pay their pro.
| portional part Of the expenses n
CURED In keeping them within the
bounds of the law, and it is the de-
termination of Governor Richie r.
lift this expense OF the public ser
vice commissioner from the over
burdened taxpayers. II the public
service corporations were careful,
conscientious and just to the public
there would be no necessity foi
these expensive regulations and ex-
aminations. They are responsible
for the necessity Of this commission.
Let them pay the bills. They will
kick, and squeal, and squirm. and
howl, but in the end will be Obliged
to pay the expenses and get no sym.
pathy. 1t will turn ont to be one OF
the most popular moves ever MAD,
in the State. 1t is required else.
where; why not here Z?
PAIL WINCHESTER.