New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-29

proval of this commission nor shall franchises
be transferred
The following is the provision for dealing with
complaints as to quality and price of gas and
electricity:
Upon the complaint in writing Of the
Mayor Of a city, the trustees of a village or
the town board of town in which a person or
corporation is authorized TO manufactures sell
or supply gas electricity for light or upon
the complaint in writing of not less than
one hundred customers. or purchasers of such
gas or electricity. either to quality price of
such gas or electricity sold and delivered in such
municipality, the commission shall investigate
as TO cause for such complaint, and may, by its
agents and inspectors, inspect the works, sys-
TEN. plant and methods used by such person or
corporation in manufacturing and supplying
such gas or electricity, and examine or cause to
be examined the books and papers of such per-
son or corporation pertaining TO the manufact-
ure, sale and supplying of such gas or cleo
tricity.
Notice and Hearing; Fixing Price of Gas or
Electricity; Orders Requiring Improvement.
Before proceeding under a complaint pre-
sented as provided in Sections and 10. the
commission shall cause notice of the COM
plant and the purpose thereof TO be served
upon the person or corporation affected there
by. public hearing shall be had upon such
complaint at which the complainants and
the person or corporation complained of shall
have an opportunity to be heard, and may be
represented by counsel. After such hearing and
a consideration of all evidence presented, and
upon such investigation as may have been made
by the commission its officers, agents or in
spectorS, the commission may fix the maximum
price of gas or electricity which shall be
charged by such persons or corporation in such
municipality, or may order such improvement in
the manufacture or supply of such gas or cleo
tricity, or in the methods employed by such
person or corporation, will, in it's Judgment
improve its quality or power. The price
or rental so fixed by the commission shall be
the maximum price or rental to be charged by
such persons or corporation for gas or cleo
tricity in such municipalities for a term of three
years and until after the expiration of such
term, such commission shall upon complaint
as provided in this section, again reduce the
price of such gas or electricity.
Penalty for Excessive Charges-Any per-
of any such corporation exacting or demand
ing in any such municipality a price for
gas or electricity in excess of that fixed bv the
commission, or the Appellate Division as herein
be alleged and established in an action bronebt
in any court for the collection of any charge
for gas or electricity, that price has been de-
manded in excess Of that fixed by the commits
sion IN the municipality wherein the action
arose no recovery shall be had therein but the
fact that such excessive charges have been made
shall be complete defence to such action
Senator Stevens said later in the evening:
The committee met tonight to consider its
report, after conducting its investigation with
all diligence possible. We worked night and
day with the counsel of the COMMITTEES in the
preparation OF the report. All members of the
committee have had equal opportunity to take
part In It's hearings and deliberations The
facts found are in accordance with the testi-
mony. The report has been signed by all the
Republican members of the committee and will
be presented to the legislature tomorrow In
view OF the fact that the legislature is to ad-
Journ on May > il is important that both the
legislature and the public should be fully in
formed at once as TO the contents of the re-
port.