Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-01
RUSH OF BUSINESS
The Legislature Has a Very
Busy Day.
Three Bills Sent in by Ex-Representatlve
MeIIen-An Investigation of Boston
Gas Situation Demanded.
(speeial pigpacth 70 the Sow

Special Dispatch to the Spy.)
Boston, Jan. S1.-The last day for
the introduction of new business in the
| legislature closed this afternoon at 6
o'clock, and nothing can come in now,
unless the rules are suspended. There
was a rush of legislation such
as has seldom been witnessed
before, and many of the more
important matters didn't show ur
until the very last minute. Between the
adjournment of the sessions of the two
branches and the hour for closing, there
were something like 400 different mat
ters filed with the clerks of the two
branches, and it will take several days
| before they are formally presented in
! session.
Several pipe line gas bills put in an
appearance late in the afternoon, and
there are two orders for gas investiga-
ton. A telephone bill was introduced at
the last minute by Mr.. Mead Of Lex
ington and several labor measures, in
Guiding a bill to prevent fines for imper-
feet weaving except under certain con-
ditions, were introduced.
Ex-R Representative Mellen of Worces-
ter sent in three different bills, one of
municipal electric lighting in Worcester,
another for return of foreign street rail-
way corporations to the board of rail-
road commissioners, a drive at the
Worcester Consolidated Street Railway
of Worcester, and another relative to
the election of parks commissioners in
the city of Worcester There was little
business transacted in either branch ex-
cept the Introduction of petitions and
bills. Here is the chapter on telephone
charges, and following that is a chapter
on gas Several of the more important
matters presented during the day or on
file in the clerks offices are referred to.
The telephone measure introduced by
Mr.. Mead of Lexington proposes that
all matters relating to the rates and
service of companies engaged In the tele-
phone business shall be under the Su-
pervision and control of the board of
gas and electric light commissioners;
said board shall have full power to reg
ulate such rates and service and to in
spect and examine the books, records
and accounts of said companies, and to
summon witnesses and send for persons
and papers at such hearings as may be
had before them; the board shall have
the same rights and powers in the prem
ises as it now possesses in reference TO
similar complaints brought before it re-
Raful0R
MES. And no increase in the rates OF
said companies shall be made without
previous approval from said board.
Upon the complaint in writing to said
board by the mayor Of any city or the
selectmen of any town in which tel
ephone company is located or doing bus
mess. within the limits Of the common
wealth. on by twenty customers of any
telephone company, in respect of the
IN1r INV For a
use of telephone instruments or for
messages sent by telephone, or of the
quality of the service rendered by such
company, the said board shall notify
the company of such complaint by leav-
ing a COPY thereof at the office of the
company, and shall thereupon, after
such notice as the board may deem
proper, give public hearing or hear
ings to such petitioner or petitioners,
and after said hearing or hearings may
make such order as the board deems
just and proper for any reduction in
the charges made by said company for
the use of telephone instruments, or for
messages sent by telephone, or for any
improvement that the board deems just
and proper in the service rendered by
said company, and said board shall
pass such other orders ana take such
further action in the premises as may
10 SAID DOarQ seem just ana prOper5 ana
the said company shall Immediately
comply with all such orders issued by
said board. The jurisdiction of said
board hereby given shall extend to and
embrace the prices charged by one tel
ephone company to another tel
phone company as well as prices
charged by any telephone COM
pany to any city, town, or
private customer. All quarterly sub
.scribers may use the te- -ephones without
charge at public pay stations to COM
municate in any part of the district
where no extra charge is made when
the subscribers telephone from their
own store, office or residence. The COM
pany may furnish cards to subscribers
for the purpose of identification.
In case any such company violates or
neglects in any respect to comply with
any order of said beard issued as afore-
said, the said board shall notify the at
torney general Of the commonwealth,
who shall take such procee 1ings thereon
as he may deem expedient Under the
provisions of this act.
The supreme judicial court or the su-
perior court, or any justice thereof, in
term time or vacation, may, upon the
application of said board, by any ap-
propriate process in equity or at law,
enforce the orders of said board issued
as aforesaid.
Here is a chapter ON gas that promises
to make the session decidedly interest
ing If half OF it goes through. Mr..
Miller of Boston has filed with fine clerk