The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-12-03
STATE CONTROL
OF UTILITIES
BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED
IN THE NEXT SESSION OF
LEGISLATURE.
Would Give Railroad Commission
Wide Power Over All Public
Utilities Of State.

A complete public utilities bill, CIV
ing the railroad commission wide
power over all public utilities of the
state and carrying maximum appro-
priation OF $4,000, has just been pub
lished in pamphlet form and copies
are being distributed by the Indiana
Manufacturers and Shippers Asso-
citation. 1t will DE introduced in the
next general assembly early in the
session. Material which was used in
drafting the measure was gathered
under the direction of ]. V. hartman,
secretary, and other officers OF the
association.
Before drafting the bill the associa-
tion made thorough study of the
public utilities law If Wisconsin, and
IN addition talked to officials of that
state and obtained their views as to
lie weaknesses of the Wisconsin law
lit might be said that the measure
whIch has just been completed is such
measure as would be framed now by
the Wisconsin authorities if they were
doing it all over again. Operation of
the Wisconsin law showed there were
many features which might be
changed to advantage. In drafting THE
bill which is proposed for Indiana,
the manufacturers ard shippers asso-
citation has attempted to avoid all oil
these weak places.
The entire question will be taken
up at the annual meeting of the asso-
citation, which will be held in Indian
apolis December and TO-
| 1t is declared that public utility
as used in the bill proposed, shall
mean ever corporation, company, in
dividual, association of individuals,
their lesses, trustees or receivers and
every town, city or village that now
or hereafter may own, operate, man.
age or control. any plant or equip
ment within the state for rhe convey
ance of telephone messages, or for the
production, transmission. delivery or
furnishing of heat, light, water or
power either directly or indirectly
to or for the public.
The Railroad Commission, it is pro-
vided, shah have full power TO inves-
tigate the rates charged for service
by any public utility company. If
there is complaint by consumers the
commission shall give the complain
ant and the public utility complained
of ten days notice of the time and
place where the hearing and investi-
CATION is to be held. If, on investiga-
ton, any rate or service is found 10
| be unreasonable or discriminative or
pr>fcreni;l the commission, shall
have the power to substitute Other
| rates. and in such instance the cost ~
,hc investigation shall be borne by
the utility at fault.
A public utility also may make
complaint on any matter affecting
the service. The section relating to
complaint by consumers provides thai
such complaint shall be made by any
mercantile, agricultural or manufact-
uring society or by any political OF
municipal organization or by any
twenty-five persons, firms, corpora
tons or associations 1t is provided
further that the commission may
make summar. Investigations with
out complaint of any kind. When q
company is dissatisfied with an order
issued by the commission it may be
gin action in the circuit >or superior
court of Marion county to set aside
such, order. In all court actions grow
ing out of the provisions of the act
the burden of proof shall be on the
party adverse to the commission and
no person shall be excused from tes-
trying or from producing books OF
papers on the ground that such evil
dence may tend to incrimlnate him
Or subject him to fine or forfeiture