'S3 6 
THE ABC OF TAXATION 
In these public service corpou-tions the public is a 
recognised partner, holding, through the franchise, 
perhaps a minor interest, possibly a major interest. 
The private interest in these partnerships is adminis 
tered by men skilful, alert, of life-long experience, 
masters of their art. Of the public’s interest, which 
has too long or too often been that of a silent partner, 
the Legislature is the constitutional representative. 
But legislative bodies, by reason of the method of their 
selection, their short terms, and by their limited and 
varied experience, are disqualified to cope directly 
with the specialised ability and experience of the 
private administration. Consequently the question 
has already arisen and is being answered, viz. 
why should not the interest of the people, the State, 
in the co-partnership, be represented by the ablest 
men whom the President, or the Governor, can secure 
at adequate salaries, constituting permanent com 
missions — men who shall learn to know what is needed 
without asking corporation lawyers, who shall become 
as competent in their distinct sphere of regulation, 
including the field of taxation, as are the Hills, Harri- 
mans, Mellens, and Tuttles in what should be their own 
sole province of railway administration — commissions 
whose duty shall be to ascertain the facts, to frame the 
argument for the people’s side — to defend the rights 
of the public against aggression, now inseparable from 
the situation, and to render a decision which shall 
stand as the verdict of the people’s representatives. 
Not until some such harmonising agency is employed 
can it be possible for these great corporations and the 
people to get their respective rights without wrong 
to the one or the other.