The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-02
Governor-eIect Unwilling to Make Radical Change in
 Alabama Law, But Would Let City Commissioners Sit in Session With Major Board
"NO COMPROMISE" SAYS
 HARRISON FOR LEAGUE
"There Must Be ReIief," He
 Declares and Announces Real Fight Will Transpire Before the Legislature. Conference in Tuscaloosa

Governor elect w. W. Brandon and the Municipal league "home rulers" of Alabama are on the verge of clash over the proposed bill to restore municipal control of local utilities to the cities and towns of Alabama.
 This was indicated Monday fol- lowing a conference at Tuscaloosa between the governor-elect and members of the league and the Ala bama public service commission elect. 2
 Governor-elect Brandon will in- sist that the public utility act of Alabama be amended to permit To- cal government representative to sit with the Alabama public service commission in cases involving local utilities. The governor-elect said that he cannot support the proposal to return control of local utilities to the city governments, as em- bodied in the ''home rule" measure. This information reached Birming- ham Monday night from the Tusca- loosa bureau of The Age-Herald
 No Compromise, Says Harrison
 William l.. Harrison, eommi ssioner of public utilities for Birmingham, on his return to Birmingham late Monday night, speaking as a member of the Home Rule" league, said that restoration of control. of local util- ities to the municipalities was neces- sary and that no compromise would be taken. Commissioner Harrison explained that Governor elect. Bran don called the conference at the in7 stance of the public service commits sioners-elect to determine how far reaching in effect tEe measure would be.
 We entered the conference that the commissioners of the state board might obtain an idea of the bill's fea- tures," said Commi oner Harrison. "Our fight, of course, will be in the legislature" Commissioner Harrison characterized the bill as being in no way an attempt to abolish the pub lie service commission, or to inter- fere with its Jurisdiction over util- ities operating in the state at large.
 Governor Brandon told the con ferees that the service of public utll- ities has grown to such an extent in recent years that the return of con trol to municipalities would cause many complications and that he be- lieved control of utilities should re- main with state board such as the public service commission. However, he said the cities which receive the service of utilities should be per mitted to have representatives sit with the commission in the cases in order that their advice might be available.
 In Line With Federal Law
 All members of the public service commi ssion which will take office January 15 agreed that the cities should have such representation, which would be in line with the fed eral law which provides that mem Der of a state service commission may sit with the interstate com merce commission. but may develop information and make suggestions during consideration of the case.
 mmissioner Harrison told The Age Herald immediately after his re- turn to Birmingham Monday night that rough draft of the measure would be ready within few days. Harry T. ilartwell, commissioner of public utilities of Mobile. O. Q. Meti. Jr., city attorney of btorcc~s. and W. J. Wynn, Birmingham city attor- ney. are drawing up the bill. Public Service Commi ssioners-ele Fitz- hugh Lee and Frank Morgan and A. c. Patterson, president of the state commission. completed the con ference membership.