The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-11-20
A PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION BILL
Administration Measure Drawn
by Representative Barber.
CORPORATIONS BEAR EXPENSE
Provides for Supervision over Rail
road. Gas and Electric, Express. Tel
ephoao and Telegraph Companies
Commissioners Salaries.

Commissioner Salaries.
The sooallctl administration" No.
4 hill providing lnr a public srniee eum'
mission was introduced ~ the legislature
/ SATURDAY. n was drafted hy Mr.. liar
/ ltrT ul iiIaIllrhlfn along thr lines laid
down by nu,rrnur iuutl Ia hls mcssag,,
/ u simply changes the name ul tide iail'
tuad commission 90 Tic public service
commission and increases the scope 81 the
present commission Tee include supervision
over all public rrfyiuc corporations or
COMPANIES. Tie startling feature Of the
. hll b. n, provision 90 lag the cAIruse Ui
I iAr commission nu the companies over
which u has supervision 10 he appur'
toned According to gross earning, within
I the staiu, At ihc livrcnt lime the bank
commissioner J, paid 10y the several say
ing bank, and trust vpmpanle- aud this
!, about the anlN state uinccr 10 receive
| hs pay except diuutly nom the state.
! u Is believed that d the bill becomes a
law d will result ~ a saving Of thousands
oi dollars 90 the state
The commission -hall have general ~
prnislpn ui all companies individual,
partnerships and cofpufatl1ns) engaged IN
lice manufacture. distribution and SAFE ui
gas or electricity Tor lighting or heating,
ui all cNprc-, companies and all eompa'
nic- owning or operating telegraph or icle'
phone lines, stations or exchanges, with
ia the state, aud OF all plants, lines, eN'
changes aud equipment OF such companies
used IN or about the business carried on
los them IA this state and power to eX'
anime plants, equipments, lines, etc,
when II deems public good requires, anu
10 examine books, accounts and papers ol
such companies, subpoena witnesses ahu
examine them and compel their attend
ancc los proceeding, Tor contempt.
4 company l. required TO produce inior'
nation ds TO rates, expense OF mdlnte'
nance and operation, contracts and imam
cial obligations when required by the com
mission hut the commission shall not give
publicity to such information unless re-
quired 10y the law. \ company which re-
fuses TO give desired information or hln'
ders the commission 10y delaying to com
ply with the orders shall be subject To a
line OF not less than $500 nor more than
5000 Complaints concerning alleged un-
lawful action or neglect OF companies may
be made and proceedings shall he had IN
The same manner a. IN the case OF rail
roads under the present law.
The commission shall have jurisdiction
TO hear, determine, render judgment and
make orders and DEGREES in all matters
provided for in the charter OF any eorpor'
alton owning or operating any plant, line
or property subject to supervision IN this
act, and shall have like jurisdiction IN all
matters respecting
/. The purity, quality and quantity OF
any product furnished or sold.
,. The price, rate or rental charged oy
any company.
3. The location, sutiiciency and mainte-
nance of proper systems, plants, apph-
ances, wires and exchanges, when the pub
lie safety and welfare REQUIRE.
4. Manner OF operating and conducting
any such business so As to be reasonable
and expedient and to promote the safety,
convenience and accommodation OF the
public.
5. To restrain companies from unjust
discrimination and usufpation or eXtor'
ton.
8. The issue of stocks, mortgages, bonds
or other securities in order to prevent
decentralization.
I. The organization of corporations to
engage in any business subject to the SUI
pervIsion OF act.
3. NAV prescribe suitable standard com
mercial suits or product or service.
Proceedings under the above section
NAV be commenced by petition OF attor-
general or states attorneys
PARTIES to a cause who feel aggI1eved
nv the final order, judgment or decree OF
commission shall have the right to take
the cause to the supreme court by appeal
for correction of any errors excepted to III
its proceedings. ,,.-,l
organized TO engage in any business sub
iect to the provisions of this act without
getting certificate from the commission
uthorizing such organization. PERSONS
permittcd to form corporation may Pc
i;tion commission for a public hearing IN
the county where such busine is to be
carried on to determine whether 1t VIII
promote the general good of the state TO
hermit such corporation to organize. "A
hubble hearing must be given before
rornoration can organize to engage IN
business in which municipality, there is
similar business already located.
A corporation organized under the laWs
of this state shall not increase Its capi!al
stock nor issue bonds or other securities
without getting permission from the coiii-
mission. Al. .o;
Every company subject to the proyl-
sions Of this act shall file and keep on NE
schedules which shall be open to pupnc
inspection. 49,, - no Golf.
supporting. 1t may employ sufiicient
number Of clerks to perform the duties
prescribed and all necessary expenses, III
Guiding the salary OF the COMMISSIONERS 10 t
th " exnenses. etc. shall be paid by the
o conn., coming under the provisions OF
the aet the apportionment Of the expen
SEES being made by the state treasurer ac
cordinp to gross earnings collected on
bus;ness transacted within the state
This money shall be collected in the same
manner as taX 49,. Ill ho
The salary of the commission VIII pc
$4,000 with an extra $1,000 for the chair-
man.