The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-06-27

plan OF regulation, even though il
has been skillfully worked out. does
not satisfy a great many people. there
by proving again the words Of Dick
ems who said that accidents will &C.
cur in the best regulated families" The
public utilities of the country have al
so been included in the regulated fam
lilies. but their fate has usually rested
with State or city governments. Radio
is still quite unresfrained. bur it has
not many months OF freedom left be
fore i, will be included with other
members OF the regulated groups. Air
craft transportation still floats free
between the earth and the clouds. but
in France regulation has been made
necessary because OF so many ma
chimes. So after while these crafts will
be joined to the regulated families.
Even now. students Of Government
.are working on these new problems.
and the forward march OF civilization
will make it necessary TO enlarge the
regulatory powers that are created
for the protection OF the public.
The Public Udlities
The ownership OF the light and
power companies of the country has
changed a good deal during recen,
years. The Public Utility Information
Bureau at Seattle. calls attention to
the fact that many thousands OF in.
vestors own the utilities of the State
of Washington. and it claims that
this has been beneficial to the people
And what is doubtless true in that
State holds good in other parts OF
the United States. When the worlt |
war broke hundreds OF public utilit,
concerns went broke with it. They
were tied hand and foot by rates un
der their franchises that compelled |
them to continue hve-cent street car
fares. and electric light and gas rate
were ruinous. Receiverships and re
organization followed. The tight grir
OF ownership by large capitalists gave
place to customcr-ownership, as re
ferred TO in the Seattle statement. This
customer-ownership has helped the
relations between the utility companies
md the communities they serve. be-
cause the officials are enabled to talk
20 their own citizens and constitu-
cncy. 1t represents a forward stel
in public affairs. For after all non
resident ownership does not furnisi
he best results in the operation o.
my kind of business, PARTICULAR,
where local politics are involved as
hey are in utility relations.
The Indeterminate Permit
A new feature OF public utility dew
,lopmcnt seeks to do away with the
limited franchise. under which COM
,anies have bull, their plants and en-
erprises and conducted them in such
way as to make clean up" and
ret out within few years. The new
permit that has been
dopied by State laws in Wisconsin.
Arkansas, California. Indiana, Louis
ana. Minnesota and Ohio. is 4 per-
nj, that says in substance to the ut /.
lities that they may have exclusive
BUSINESS rights within the cities dur
r10I A.L Tr, 81.
are not mutually agreeable
method is in effect by which the
tate may value the property and ar
ange to take j, away from the private
wners and give it into the hands OF
he municipality. 1t might seems that :,
he railroads work on somewhat sim
lar permanent arrangements. The
Ian seems TO represent progressive
icas, and it is understood that the .
,ilities themselves are greatly in fav-
r OF these methods because OF the
lose cooperation it furnishes with the
ublic that is served.
All the principles OF public regu-
ltion seem to be in operation regard
ig all kinds OF transportation. in
Iuding even automobiles and trucks.
he railroads and the utilities can no
niger run loose in any kind of
it-and-miss method, and the "regu-
tied families" seem to have improved
heir standing before the public. and
the industrial and financial world.
Government Ownersh:p
It's blamed hot as this typewriter
grinding out its grist in Washing
IN. A SNOWFALL wouldn't stand much
nance here. Blu, the snow balls
,anccs would be as good as TIA, OF