Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-31

ne nearQ, IN person or Dy attorney. All
testimony in support Of said complaints
| shall be taken by a stenographer Of
said board and all written and docu-
| mentary evidence offered by complaint
ants shall be filed by said board as a
part Of its records at said hearings,
and any such common carrier doing
business in the county where such hear
ing is held shall be notified by said
board OF any such complaints and Of
| the nature and substance Of the same
and shall have full opportunity and
right to appear before said board and
defend or explain any such complaint
and be fully heard in the matter Of
the revision Of its fares, charges and
tolls under the provisions Of this act"
No one is going to be wronged by the
provision Then the next provision is
as follows:
THAT the said board may conduct
its hearings and proceedings under this
act in such manner as will best con-
duce to the proper dispatch Of busi-
mes and the ends Of justice. a majority
Of the board shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of such business.
Said board may, from time to time,
make or amend such general rules or
orders as may be requ site for the Or
der and regulation Of proceedings be-
fore it, including forms Of notices and
the service thereof"
Section five provides that,
said board shall have the right and
authority to obtain from each Of said
common carriers In ca 70 county, where
its said sessions are heid. lilll and COM
plete information Necessary to enable it
to perform the dut''' relIiced by this
act, and for that purpose said board
shall have pow to require the attend
ance and tos- iulGuy q witnesses and the
production ii Ill books atpars, tariffs,
contracts, agreements ali documents
relating to any matter Under investiga-
ton by the provision OF this act. and
to that end may invoke the aid of any
court Of record in this State in requiring
the attendance and testimony Of wit
nesses and ne production Of books, pa
pers, and documents under the provi-
sions Of this act"
Shouldn't the people Of this State
have a right to say through their COM
missioners produce your books and pa
pers that we MAY see what you are do
"All testimony taken before said
board at said hearings shall be made
q matter of record and shall be open to
public inspection. Either of the men,
| bers of said board may administer oaths
| and affirmations and sign subpoenas.
TIE testimony Of any witness may be
talk n, at the instance Of any person in
teres led. in any proceedings or investi-
cation depending before said board by
deposition or otherwise. The said board
may also order testimony to be taken
by deposition in any proceedings or in
| vestigation under this act, at any stage
of such proceedings or investigation"
I would like to know if the railroad
commissioners see fit to investigate a
certain question Of fares or tolls what
authority they have to summon Witness
es and enforce their orders?
Section seven in the bill provides as
follows:
ANY person who shall neglect or re-
! fuse to attend and testify, or to answer
any lawful inquiry, or to produce books,
papers, tariffs, contracts. agreements
and documents. If in his power to do so.
in obedience to the subpoena or lawful
punished by fine not less than one hum
dred dollars. or by Imprisonment for
not more than one year.
II the railroad commissioners should say
to the railroads: "Your fares between
certain stations are unjust, your charges
are unfair and you must change Them"
the railroads would snap their fingers
and say: you have no power to compel
US to do so and we won't change it. How
are you going to enforce it?" There is no
penalty under the amendment which the
committee have reported.
Section says: 1.-THE fees Of such wit
nesses for attendance and travel shall
be the same as for witnesses before the
supreme court and shall be paid from the
treasury Of the State on a certificate of
said board which shall be filed with the
State auditor"
The persons appearing before the rail-
road commissioners shall not receive fees;
1t is only when the railroad commission
ers find 1t necessary to summon witnesses
that his fees shall be paid.
Section states as follows: "The Claim
that any such testimQny or evidence may
tend to eliminate the rrrSon giving such
evidence shall not excuse such witness
from testifying; but such evidence shall
not be used against such person on the
trial of any criminal proceeding"
Section 10 provides that every common
carrier. under the provisions Of this act.
shall print and keep for public inspection,
schedules and tables slowing the fares.
classfications. tolls, tariffs, rates and
charges for the TRANSFORMATION of passen-
gers and freight so revised and regulated
by said board ana Vitch ere in force at
the time upon its rail-: oad. The schedules
and tables .3rinted As ;f0r5said by any
such common carrier shah plainly state
the places until its r1lroad between
which property and 7assangers will be
carried and shall contain toe classif1ca-
ton of freight and fares In force upon
such railroad, and shall also state sepa-
rately the terminal charges and any rules
or regulations which in any wise change,
AFFECT, or determine any part or the ag-
gregate Of sucn aforesaid rates and fares
and charges such schedules and tables
she'll be plainly printed in large type, and
copies for the use Of the public shall be