Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-09

but reserves the climax for the last
moment. 1t can be safe to say that
the last day will see probably more
bills than any other. However, to keep
up the figure. the dramatic consistency
may be preserved and the time be
extended for tapering off Of the habit
of presenting bills. OF course COM
mittees can present measures after
that date, but they must be in the
form of substitutes for other bills that
may have been found unsatisfactory.
Big Things Come Last.
While many bills of large import
have already made their appearance,
the great mass of measures so far in
| troduced have been of minor or local
character The real big things have
been reserved for the last. Because
of their important character their spon-
sors are giving them the deepest study
to make them effective and satisfac
tory, and all this requires time. Mr.
LeRoy's big I'LL for the regulation of
all public service corporations, which
has been reserved for the closing days,
is an illustration in point. 1t is one of
the most sweeping and comprehensive
meas ures to come into the legislature,
vet is regarded as quite fair, and the
opinion is that it will be passed with
out any very great changes.
Stronger Than the Present Law.
This measure aims for the regula-
ton of every sort of public service util-
fty in the state, including railroad COM
panies, telegraph, sleeping car, express
corporations and gas companies. All
are put under the jurisdiction of the
present railroad rate commission,
whose scope OF operations is greatly
increased The first part of the bill is
practically a copy of the law creating
the present rate commission. The bill
is much stronger in many respects re-
lating to railroads than the present
law and gives the commission power
to regulate passenger fares, "a right
which has been disputed under the
law as it now stands. BY public serv-
ice corporations is meant all gas. cleo
tric light. heat and power companies,
steam and street railways, telegraph
and telephone concerns, express COM
panieS. etc, and all persons author
ICED to exercise the right of eminent
domain or TO use or occupy highways
in a manner not permitted to the gen
eral public. Logging and other pri-
vate railroads not doing business as
common carriers are exempt
Powers of the Commission.
Large authority is given the CON-
mission. 1t is empowered to ascer-
tain as early as possible the amount
of money invested in the construction
and equipment of every transmission
company and the amount Of money 1t
would require to reconstruct all lines
plants or buildings Of public service
corporations The outstanding bonds or
Indebtedness as well as the floating
Indebtedness shall be asceTtained also.
BY this process it IS hoped TO arrive at
a true valuation that the water may
be squeezed out of stock and the ques
ton of a fair profit determined.
The bill provides that each company
shall file with the commission a list
of its officers and their salaries, the
wages paid to employees and the maxi
mum hours of continued service re-
CURED i'm each class. Strict penalties
IRE provided for Determinations and
a procedure for complaint to the CON-
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