▁to ▁become ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁state ' s ▁re organ ized ▁Rail road ▁Commission , ▁renamed ▁that ▁year ▁as ▁the ▁Public ▁Service ▁Commission . ▁ ▁As ▁the ▁commission ' s ▁leading ▁member , ▁Lil ient hal ▁expanded ▁its ▁staff ▁and ▁launched ▁ag gress ive ▁investig ations ▁of ▁Wisconsin ' s ▁gas , ▁electric ▁and ▁tele phone ▁util ities . ▁ ▁By ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 2 , ▁the ▁commission ▁achieved ▁rate ▁redu ctions ▁total ing ▁more ▁than ▁$ 3 ▁million ▁affect ing ▁over ▁a ▁half - mill ion ▁customers . ▁But , ▁its ▁attempt ▁to ▁force ▁a ▁one - year ▁ 1 2 . 5 ▁percent ▁rate ▁cut ▁on ▁the ▁Wisconsin ▁Tele phone ▁Company , ▁a ▁subs idi ary ▁of ▁AT & T , ▁was ▁qu ashed ▁by ▁the ▁Wisconsin ▁courts . ▁After ▁La ▁Fol lette ' s ▁defeat ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 2 ▁Republican ▁primary ▁election , ▁Lil ient hal ▁began ▁putting ▁out ▁feel ers ▁for ▁a ▁federal ▁appointment ▁in ▁the ▁newly ▁elected ▁Democratic ▁administration ▁of ▁President ▁Franklin ▁D . ▁Ro ose vel t . ▁ ▁Lil ient hal ▁and ▁the ▁Tennessee ▁Valley ▁Author ity ▁ ▁Lil ient hal ' s ▁credentials ▁for ▁being ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁three - person ▁board ▁over see ing ▁the ▁Tennessee ▁Valley ▁Author ity ▁( TV A ) ▁were ▁earned ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Wisconsin ▁Public ▁Service ▁Commission ▁under ▁Wisconsin ' s ▁innov ative ▁governor ▁Philip ▁La ▁Fol lette . ▁Lil ient hal ▁performed ▁very ▁well ▁in ▁that ▁post , ▁ ▁and