Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-05
Senator Carl Badger Presents
Lengthy Measure This
Afternoon.
BIG APPROPRIATION is ASKED
Salary List Of Commission
Reaches $4,000 for BIZ
ennial Period.
This Does Not Include Office Expense
or Compensation of Clerks Who
Would BE Required.

The three commissioners enjoy er-
tausive inqulsitorial powers over all
corporations OF the public utility class,
spcadcally over railroads, express conf
panios. telegraph, telephone. gas, street
railroad, and electric light companies.
They may require schedules Of tariffs
to- be fled and Il ia expected they will
probe deeply into the organization Of
au companies dealing with the nccessI-
Ties known as utilities"
They may require a railroad TO build
sour track for any manufacturer who
needs il, provided they conclude his re-
quest Is reasonable
The rates in force Jan 4, 1907, are TO
ne fled, to become officially the maxi
mum rates to be allowed.
They win allow individuals to take
Oh, immunity bath" but this does not
protect the companies about which they
testify from guilt
Accidents are TO be Investigated, anu
record Of them kept.
They will be required TO take action
90 prevent any unjust discrimination,
aud will require railroads advertising
that passenger trains viii meet con
necting lines 20 50 schedule their
rains that these lines will actually be
connected with.
short haul Is greater than a charge
fer a long haul under similar circum-
stances.
Interstate determinations come un-
der the field of their Investigations.
Iu fact the commission is one TO find
out about corporations as much as to
regulate them.
Money i'm a large amount Is needed
to put the bill into effect. There are
three commissioners called for at
salary OF $500 per year. Then there
is an attorney for the commission at
$4,000 per year, and a secretary VINO
is 10 receive S2,40O. This requires an
appropriation Of S31,SO0 for the next
biennial period, not counting clerical
help and office expenses. Senator Bad
ger puts the figure necessary at $780,
900 for the two years.
This afternoon in the senate. Senator
rar Badger introduced a measure or
$50 typewriter pages. and Monday the
same will be introduced in the house OF
r.prosentatives early, This is the pub
Dice service commission bill, and it is
meant TO replace an movements now
started for telephone investigations,
coal Investigations, and railroad COM
ssious
The commission bill calls for $4,000
gs "a biennial appropriation, and this
large amount may cause trouble for the
appropriations committee. How ever
there is a move on foot among mem
hels Of the Traffic bureau. which VIII
back the bill 70 see that the size OF the
appropriation is not allowed 70 result
u the bills defeat. This move is 10
secure the consent Of public spirited
,tizous who believe in the need for the
.gulation called for, 20 serve as COM
ssioners without pay during the four
wears It is permitted 10 the present
Governor to make appointments
The salaries OF the commissioners
make up S2l 900 of the $4,000 asked for,
sJ that It is thought that an appropria-
t.nn this small viii not be seriously OBJ
se0ted to,
PROVISIONS OF BILL
section / Of the bin provides that the
..mmissioners may elect their own
uIasident. section that the governor
may remove a commissioner for "lne-
hoicucy, neglect OF duty or misconduct
lr Office" giving him a copy OF the
charges against him, and an oppor-
wuity of being publicly heard In his
own defense, upon not less than 10
DAYS notice
THE jurisdiction Of the commission is
'.lNnutQ TO Nll lNhllt HNIhAhH ahiI1i
at0ns It's lawyer Us TO be appointed
hE the commission 10 hold office dur
Ug lbs pleasure and ne IN turn during
his pleasure may employ lawyers 10
assist him when needed. The pro-
vision is put thus SO that the commits
f.1uers need not employ counsel eN-
,.ut when they see direct need for D..
Is thought that during the hrst two
years. most OF the time viii be spent
luFcsugatinB 80 that "a regular attor-|
h.y VIII not be needed.
THE secretary is 90 be hired az the
c|umission's pleasure and VIII nave
power 10 administer Oaths, In addition
Z. being In general charge OF the com
MISSIONS office Section 3 provides
the means by which Investigations are
o. become effective. "ghe commission
shall have power 10 employ" 10 reads,
'eIch officers, clerks. inspectors and
experts, as IL may deem necessary 90
D.Ily out the provisions of this act, on
t' perform the duties and exercise
on. power conferred by law upon the
commission"
MUST BE DIslNTEREsTEp.
Section n forbids commissioners from
having amy interest in railroads on
o.Nar corporations of the kind under inc
hIIH provisions II fOrhids them 'di-
f".tly or Indirectly to solicit suggest
request Or recommend 40 amy common
cIr.or tho appointment off amy
person to any Office place, position. or
enjoyment The same prohibition iH
il.ol ou Ono companies from gylng
iIH"tlous boo fare. mtaaos free freight
IfnortY gft COZ Frauty OF amy kind
IN tue matter of collecting evidence.
ulu % provides that "ull copies 0f
..I.aI documents ana orders filed or
NN..ltrd according to law Boz ihe Ollie.
lh. commission shall bo evidence
i 1880 manner as tho originals
Pr" partially pay the expenses of The
hInIaHiuu. certain fees are provided
ilt these fees go into tho state
N'N.ulN and are not to bo used hy thr
commission. Witnesses called before
commission arr to receive 1850 par
Tor service and witnesses refusing
Dlh 1r to appear aye to be- prose
',l n amy court of competent crime