The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-01
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

INV aNe NHHhSAAAS AAp n"AhN ~ Wv
rRoard of Railroad Commissioners to
Public Service Commissions" and extend
ng the jurisdiction Of the commission
over other public service corporations,
arms and individuals, which was passed
by the last legislature, takes effect to-
day. The commission as originally Gre
Rted by the legislature Of 1906 has had
Jurisdiction over railroad corporations,
both steam and electric. This jurisdic-
ion may be summed up by saying that
{ includes all matters relating TO public
safety and accommodation, to reasonable
and equal rates and facilities and the
issuance Of securities or stock to prevent
overcapitalization. During the last two
years the hoard, through public hearings
and personal attention, has made orders
in and adjusted large number Of COM
plants, the latter course seeming to have
been by far the more frequent when COM
plants have been filed. These complaints
have ranged from attacks on rates to
requests for facilities. In addition many
accident cases have been personally or
publicly Investigated, annual inspections
Of every read made, and, what has prob
ably been Of more general Observance, al
large number of dangerous rail-level
highway. crossings have been abolished.
To effectively accomplish this work and
obtain compliance with the orders Of the
board, the legislature granted to The
board all the powers Of courts Of law
and Of equity.
The new law in no wise alters the
powers, procedure and work of the old
board, but applies that power and pro.
cedure to other public service companies
fitting its provisions to the nature of
the business to be supervised The bust
nesses to come under this supervision
are companies engaged in the manufac-
ture, distribution and sale Of gas or cleo.
tricity for lighting or heating, telegraph,
telephone and express companies and
power companies And the word com
panies" is defined to include individuals
partnerships, associations, corporations
and municipalities. Provision il made
for the inspection Of the plants, equip
ment and books of such companies and
their examination under oath, in the
discretion of the commission. They are
to furnish the commission on request
such information as to their physical
condition, management, rates and finan-
cial standing as may be called for. Re-
ports Of fatal accidents and such as in
capacitate the injured person from work
are 70 be immediately sent the commits.
sion and inquiry, personally or by public
hearing, In the Judgment of the commits.
sion, is to be had thereof. The general
jurisdiction Of the commission includes
matters respecting the purity, quantity
or quality of any product furnished; the
prescribing Of standard Of measure
ment, pressure or initial voltage; the
manner Of operation SO as to be safe
and accommodate the public; the rate,
toll or rental chargedso as TO be reason
able and not discriminatory; the stuff
cheney and maintenance of proper sys
TENS, plants, conduits and equipment;
the issue Of stock, mortgages, bonds or
other securities SO as to prevent over
capitalization; and the crossing Of pri
waite land BY lines, conduits, poles, towers
or wires. Schedules Of rates, tolls and
charges are to be filed with the commits
sion and kept in every Office, as is now
the practice with railroad companies.
Appeal from the decision of the commits.
sion leads directly to the supreme court
for the correction Of errors Of law. 1t
Is specially provided that the commission
snail not restrain competition; and the |
commission need not require the same
rate or toll for one place as exists in
another, but shall take cognizance OF |
LEGAL conditions. lie hiring cf clerks,
experts and temporary employees by the
commission Is also provided for. subject
to the approval OF the governor.
This is the act which Governor George
II Pronty declared for in both his pre-
afd post-election campaigns and which
ne ably and effectively argued through |
he legislature.
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