The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-08
Public Service Commission.

Tense; any contract TO the contrary not.
outstanding.
Public Service Commission.
The law passed during the last session
of the legislature providing for the rogu-
lation OF railroads and the abolishing OF
grade crossings has met with such uni.
versal favor and has proved OF such
| great benefit, that a demand has sprung
up that all public service corporations
should have similar state supervision.
The work OF our railroad commission
has shown what may be done by wise
supervisor backed by proper authority
for the enforcement OF such regulations
as they think proper to make, We have
seen many OF our dangerous grade cross
ings abolished and general improve
ment in the service rendered the public,
not only as regards safety, but also con-
yenience. This is as It should be.
When any corporation receives char
ter from this state or comes here 10 do
business, such corporation becomes a
child OF the state, and the only supervi-
sion which can be exercised over that
body being through the state, the state
is under moral obligations TO see that
ii carries on its business in proper
manner subject TO the rights OF the
people. The number OF public service
corporations doing business in our state
is increasing rapidly, and it is the part
of wisdom at this time TO place them
under such control as shall retain for
the people their full rights.
wish more especially to call your
attention to conditions existing regard
ing telegraph and telephone companies.
At the present time there is practically
no competition among the telegraph
companies. the result being that we re-
ceive in many cases extremely poor ser.
vice, and such rates are charged as are
fixed by the company 1t should be the
duty OF telegraph company receiving
a message to attend to its prompt deliv
cry. They receive compensation for do
ing this. and this obligation should be
as binding on them as any other. At
the present time they are practically a
law unto themselves. No one can obtain
any redress except by their acquiescence
or in court OF law. | believe with the
proper supervision OF a commission given
suitable authority, that this state OF
affairs could be very largely done away
with, and that the service could be much
improved even ii the rates were main
tanned as at present.
The telephone companies are in a.
somewhat different position inasmuch as
many different companies have been es
tablished through tne state, resulting in
many cases in sharp competition This
results usually in excellent service and
in reasonable rates. In other cases where
there is no competition the service is
not as good aud rates are higher. In
these days the trend in cases like tais
is towards consolidation, and ! am OF
the opinion that this is bound 10 occur
in many places before a very long time.
1t is also my opinion that when such
take place. they may be
beneficial to the communities; that one
giving suitable service at a
fair price will be much better than two
even though the cost Of each
is less. For the above reasons | believe
that these consoldations may be made
Of benefit to the public, but only when
made under the supervision of the state |
and under such conditions as will pre-
vent over-capltalization on which the |
public must pay dividends. with the inn /
mediate result of excessive charges.
have spoken particularly OF these two /
classes Of corporations because they are /
perhaps more prominently before the |
public than any others at this time. |
but the same arguments apply to other I
public service corporations and should I
be applied to them. For the purpose,
therefore. OF providing such supervision,
recommend that the name OF the rail.
,oad commission be changed to that Of
public service commission, and be given
supervision over all public service corpo-
'ations, with such power and authority
is are now given this commission for
he supervision and control Of railroads.
This will, Of course, increase the work
II the commission very materially and
heir salaries should be increased in pro-
portion. They should also be given sucn
lerical assistance az is necessary Tor the
proper carrying on Of this work.
Insurance Department.
It would seem as if the time had def
litely arrived when the state legisla-
nre should establish an independent in
,urance department, taking the duties
low assigned to that public business
rom the secretary OF state and the state
treasurer.
At the close Of 1907 it appeared that
he fire insurance risks written had in
reased from s35 500, $40 in 1885 to SIS,
Il4.273. and that the life insurance risks
on citizens in this state
mounted to S50,g3l,l25 The total pre-
mum received last year on Vermont
business by fidelity and casualty com
,anies equalled S235,020.50, while acct
lent companies collected Sl34633.02. In
ny Judgment these figures and all That
hey imply warrant the definite consider
Ition by the legislature OF an insurance
department.. which ! recommend, and the
reation of which is fully sustained at
he present time by reason OF the large
ncome which the state is now deriving
rom that business.
Advertising Vermont.
In recommend that provision be made
or the purpose of gathering information
which will be OF value, and then adver.
Using our state in a proper manner. |
,elicve that BY so doing we shall make a
wise expenditure which will be returned
0 us MANIFOLD.
Finances.
II Is very gratifying to report that tae
nances Of the state are in a fiourishing
We not only were able to ,
ay our running expenses during the last
NO years. but accumulated something
1 surplus. | am Of the opinion that
his amount. OF az least a part of it.
hould be transferred to the permanent
ehool fund as intended By the present
aw The revenues Of the state at tae