The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-05-17
n hiding the sense of winter being
long past is hard to realize.
Public Utility Bill In.


Public Utility Bill In.
The longest, most sweeping and by
far the most important bill presented
at this session of the legislature is
the so-called public utility BILL which
came in late last week. 1t is an i'm
proved version of the Leroy bill.
which came in some weeks ago. The
first measure was largely the work
Of Mr.. Leroy and Speaker Ekern, but
in the more finished and compre-
henslye substitute bill the hands OF
Senator Hudnall, Assemblyman Stout.
Professor John II. Commons. OF the
university, and others We're seen. The
bill, which is unlike anything of its
kind IN the country. provides that the
railroad rate commission shall have
power to supervise and regulate ali
telephone. power, light. and heat COM
panies. Telegraph companies are not
included III the bill as they are pro-
vided for in another measure.
Under the bill all utilities must give
reasonable and adequate service at
reasonable rate. The commission has
power to make investigation of the
property values of all utilities and fix
the rate to be charged accordingly
without regard to the capitalization Of
the company. If a part of the plant
is not in use, this is not to be counted
in the valuation, but only the actual
working property.
Provision is made for safeguarding
the utility through a clause permitting
an appeal to court For final de
termination. A uniform system of ac-
counting will be provided by the com
mission. and this must be adopted by
the utility under regulation. Utilities
must give complete information
when wanted, such as the amount Of
stock. the names of stockholders, the
amount of stock held by each, divl-
dends per year, the amount of surplus.
depreciation and undivided profits.
Cities are given opportunity to order
extensions of service and to state
what sort of product shall be fur
nished; thus. if this city desires water
gas it can have it, but it is left to
the commission to fix the quality and
standard. Hearings on the bill will
on the bill are expected to be long
drawn out, no doubt of it's final pas
sage is entertained.
Insurance Bills Rounding Out.
Last week witnessed the final hear
ings on the insurance bills and they
will probably be reported in this week.
Ten of the twenty-four recommended
by the legislative insurance investi-
eating committee have already gone
through both houses and will soon be-
come laws, as it is understood they
meet the approval of the governor
These bills provide among other things
against writing participating and non
participating insurance, requiring in
Surance companies disseminating bust
ness to file deposits covering the
policies in force, requiring copies Of
application, etc. The big fight that
has been waged for weeks between the
actuaries Of the large insurance COM
panies on one hand and the insurance
committee on the other has been
chiefly over fhe bills limiting the ex-
pense Of companies and requiring
them to put into all policies tables of
estimates showing how the premiums
are expended. This latter idea is not
a new one to students of insurance
but If enacted Wisconsin will be the
first state to put it upon the statute
books.