The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-06
GIVES SWEEPING
SUPERVISION OF
PUBLIC SERVICE
Bill Creating Commission to
Regulate Utilities introduced
by Senator Badger.
JURISDICTION OF BODY
COVERS A WIDE RANGE
FIXES MAXIMUM PASSENGER
AND FREIGHT RATES, WITH
COAL SCHEDULE.

A.
Yesterday introduced in the senate one
Of the big bills Of the session OF the leg
islature The object Of the bill is to ere
ate a public service commission. whose
duties It shall be TO have Jurisdiction over
all public service companies OF the state,
including railroads. telegraph and tele-
phone companies and power plants, and
10 regulate all rates 10 be charged by
any of these public service corporations.
The bill is one that was recommended
by the governor in his message TO the
legislature. II was drawn for the most
part by former Senators Love. Lawrence
and Clegg. a committee appointed at the
last session of the legislature to investi-
gate some Of the companies coming IN
der the jurisdiction of the proposed new
commission. In lieu OF q report the
committee submitted the proposed bill.
The bill was revised by the Commercial
Club Trasfi bureau and finally submit
ted To committee Of citizens before its
introduction.
Senator Badger. who introduced this bill.
asked that il be referred to the commit
tee on railroads, of which he is the
chairman. The portion of the governor
message having reference to a public seTy-
Ice commission had been referred to the
committee on manufactures and commerce
ana IL Was presumed that this Dill was 10
so to that committee. Out OF courtesy to
Senator Badger it was, however, referred
10 his committee.
Jurisdiction Is Sweeping.
The bill provides for a public service
commission OF three members. TO be ap-
pointed by the governor. with the APP
proval of the senate. Each commissioner
is to receive a salary of s. 800 per year
One OF the members of the commission is
10 serve for two years, one for four years
and one for six years on the original sp-
pOintment. Thereafter the members are
to be appointed for terms Of six years
each. No member Of the commission may
he removed by the governor without first
having been served with charges against
him. made in writing. and without first
having had the opportunity OF a public
hearing on those charges.
The jurisdiction of the commission is
given in section Of the bill, which fol-
Section 2-Jurisdiction OF Commission
The jurisdiction. supervision. powers and
dates Of the public service commission
hereby created shall extend under this
act:
I. To railroads and street railroads ly-
ing exclusively within the state Of Utah,
and to the persons or corporations own
ing. leasing. operating or controlling the
same.
. To such portion Of the lines OF any
other railroad and street railroad as lies
within the state OF Utah, and 10 the
persons or corporation owning, leasing.
operating or controlling the same. so far
as concerns the construction. maintenance.
equipment terminal facilities and local
transportation facilities. and local trans
portation Of persons or property within
the state OF tUah.
g. To any common carrier operating OF
doing business exclusively within the state
OF Utah.
T. To the manufacture. sale or distribu-
ton of gas and electricity for light, heat
and power In said state of Utah, and to
the persons or corporations owning, leas-
ing, operating or controlling the same.
8 To telegraph and telephone lines "
ing exclusively within the state OF Utah.
and to persons OF corporations owning.
leasing. operating or controlling the
same.
s To such portion of the lines of any
other telegraph or telephone as lies with
in the state o. Utah. and 70 the persons
or corporations owning. leasing. operat-
ing or controlling the same, so far as
concerns the construction. maintenance
equipment local terminal facilities and
local tolls and charges for the transmits
sion Of messages within the state OF Utah
Provides for Legal Counsel.
Counsel to the commission is provided
for at q salary 20 be named by the COM
mission. and additional legal assistance
may be employed BY this attorney. The
counsel to tie commission shall repre-
sent the state and the commission in all
actions and proceedings involving any
question under this act to prosecute all
proceedings directed by the commission:
to advise the commission I'm all legal queS-
lions and to perform all OF the services
usually required OF a legal adviser
The secretary of the commission is 10 he
appointed b. the commission TO serve at
a salary Of s, 400 He is to De the custo-
dian of all records and documents Of the
commission. He is given general supervi-
sion OF the office and all OF the clerical
work connected with II. He NAV desir-
nate an assistant to act fo- him during
his absence.
The holding Of any position with a pub
lie service company. any official relation