Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-01-20

roads, OF gas, 230 electric light and
power, 141 water, $50 telephone and 13
heating companies. Some things have
developed, in working under the law,
which may properly receive considera-
ton at your hands, the more import
ant of which l call to your attention.
The time within which corporation
may surrender it's permit, license or
franchise to the municipality granting
it, is limited by the act of July l, 1908.
There seems to be no legitimate rea-
son why this limitation should be con-
tinued. think the statute should be
amended SO as to permit all corpora
tions organized before the act took
effect and subject to it's provisions, to
surrender their franchises at any time,
and receive, in lieu thereof, an indie
terminate permit.
Control of Crossings.
The statute gives the commission
jurisdictions over and control of rail-
road crossings made by railroad COM
panies after the passage of the act,
and then only at points outside the
limits OF incorporated cities. The right
to regulate the crossings of highways,
other than railroad tracks, is not
vested in the commission. It has
been found that in dealing with this
statute it is impossible to proceed
along uniform lines in the solution of
crossing problems on account Of con-
fiicting jurisdiction within and without
cities, and for other reasons. 1t seems
desirable that all crossings-steam
railroads with one another, steam and
electric railroads, steam and electric
roads and highWays-be all placed un-
der the jurisdiction of the commission,
both within and without cities.
The statute provides that all orders,
notices and official documents shall be
signed by the commission. This i'm
poses on them an unnecessary amount
of labor, which might be devoted to
more important work. The statute
should be amended so as to make the
signature of the secretary sufficient to
authenticate the orders of the commits
sion.
The statute, placing upon the COM
mission the duty to investigate I'M
usual or exorbitant charges paid for
| transportation of freight, and providing
! for a refund in case the commission
finds the charge is unlawful, has been
(! found to be defective in not giving jur-
/ isdiction where unusual or eXorbitant
| charges are made in connection there
with, such as sc-called demurrage
/ charges. This provision Of the act is
burdensome to the commission, and
/ probably should also be amended so
/ as to limit the jurisdiction of the COM
! mission to charges involving a fixed
minimum amount. Some of the COM
plants coming before the committion
| involve very small amounts, and the
attendant expenses to the state is
greater than the over-charge sought to
be corrected.
4 The only restriction upon raising
rates is the provision under which
/ change in them shall not become eff
fective until ten days after the tariff
quoting the new rate is filed with the
commission.
! It is easier for the commission to
prevent an unjust rate before it is
! promulgated than to readjust it after
! it is once established.
Stock and Bond Law.
In my opinion, Chapter SIS, Laws of
/ 1907, placing the supervision of the is
sue of stocks, bonds and other evil
! dences of indebtedness of public+serv-
ice corporations under the jurisdiction
/ of the Railroad Commission, should be
amended so as to include telephone
companies.
| This chapter has recently been con-
strued by the supreme court, and so
| limited as to be of little value as a
means of ascertaining many important
! facts relating to past issues of these
securities, which should be matters OF
/ record in connection with a new issue.
The legislature could prescribe the
/ purposes for which such securities
may be issued, determine the character
! and limit the amount of the same to
+, that which would reasonably be re-
quired for such purpose, and leave to
/ the commission the power to ascertain
whether the proposed purposes are
within the terms of the statute, and
whether the character and amount to
be issued are reasonably required for
such purposes.
| The act is of great benefit in correct
ing the abuses which have long pre-
vailed in this state in over-capitaliza-
ton of such corporations, and should
be strengthened in every way possible
within constitutional limits.
Education.
There are 775,547 persons of school
age: and these persons are directed by
more than $1,000 local officers, 70
county and IS city superintendent.
There are actively engaged in instruct
ional work 1859 teachers; 1859 are
teaching in the 26S free and 236 in the
Ia independent high schools; 695 are
| teaching in the 1872 state graded
schools of the first class; 500 in the
/ 268 state graded schools of the second
class; IA are in the four county schools
of agriculture, SO in the 20 county