Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-05
.LOHN 2. BAKER.

lRepreSenc@tl e from JACKSON IO"nIY'l
AMI 4 number at other big meas ures
received action in one form O. an
other at the hands of one or bO.h Of
the two houses.
OF course the greatest interest at
taches to the public utility bill. While
a whole lot of argument was directed
against it by a strong array of law
yers and experts representing special
interests, the changes made in the bill.
are comparatively Insignificant and
have chiefly to do with its phlaseoia gy,
making clear certain points that were
in dispute On the question Of wht t.
er the public utility should bear the
cost of valuation, sort OF COmprO-
mise was reached, the state bearing
the expense, except in cases where The
utility is found to be in the wrong.
Opposition Brings Concessions.
Those utilities against which com
plants are made will be valued fir, t,
but others will be taken up by experts
as time goes on. The strenuous OPP
position made against the bill by the
independent telephone companies re-
suited in some concessions being IL ade
to them. They are excluded from
three provisions of the bill; that W. ica
gave the rate commission power to
prevent duplication of plants where
unnecessary; thatregarding franchi es,
as the telephone companies have no
franchises, and that providing for
municipal purchase.
A uniform system Of accounting Is
prescribed for all public utilities.
There can be no keeping of a double
set of books, such as the gas COM
papies wish on the grounds that they
were but parts Of a syndicate which
had its own system. 1t is probable
that the bill will still be contested by
tile telephone companies on the floors
Of the two houses as many members
in each house doubtless own stock in
telephone companies. The Demo III ats
and Social Democrats may also make
fight for municipal regulation as
against state regulation, but their OBJ
iectiOns will be swept aside by the
dominant party. Tile Democrats prom.
ise to make an issue on this question
in the next campaign.
Railroad Measures.
Many measures affecting railroads
still remain to be considered, including
the two-cent bills, on which hearings
will be held this week. Last week the
senate acted favorably on two i'm
portant measures. One was the Hud-
nell bill, providing that parallel or
duplicate railroad or interurban lines
could not be made without the consent
of the rate commission. 1t practically
prohibits the duplication Of public
utilities. The other was the co EN-,
ployes and comparative negligence bill
on which there had been a furious con-
test by the railroads. It takes away
as q ground of defense the comparative
negligence OF other employees AMI
leaves a question Of damages with the
jury or court.
The Anderson dill to limit the hours
of railroad employees was also favor
ably acted upon by the committee. but
after an amendment had been offered
by Mr.. Thompson ii went over. Tie
amendment provides for an e.glt-hour
day for telesraphers The orig nal bill
provides for ten hours Of consecutive
rest after sixteen consecutive hours on
duty for railroad employees and for
eight hours Of consecutive st after
an aggregate Of sixteen Tours on duty
in every twenty-four hours Tie orig
inal bill established the hours Of
telegraphers by making nine hours the
working day in places oleu day and