Abstract

Feudalism and a Knight Errant in California

This article focuses on the suit brought by the author in the California Supreme Court against the California Railroad Commission to prevent it "from compromising" the rate reduction case with the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. This all arose out of an order issued by the California Railroad Commission on November 13, 1933, directing the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to reduce its natural-gas rates by approximately $2,100,000 a year, the subsequent appeal by the company to the federal courts and the about face action of three of the five members of the commission in suddenly ordering a rehearing on the rate question, although no request for such rehearing had been filed with the commission. The company, however, promptly came before the commission and offered to settle for less than half.