The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-17
Nor WHOLLY SATISFACTORY,
 BUT


 The special committee upon Public IHflities has agreed upon a. bill, not unanimously, however, for two Of the eleven members did not vote. It pro vfces for the creation of Public Utll- ftfes commission. having three mem bers at a salary of $3,o0o each, clerk and an offtce in the Capitol, and au- thorized to employ accountants en- Riueers. experts, etc, at a cost not N texceeding appropriations to be made by the General Assembly. The mem bers are to be appointed by the GOV ernor with the consent of the Senate one to hold office to July 1, 1911, one to sau1e date in 1913 and the third to 1915: then, one to be appointed bi- < ennially to a six year term. Its rec ords are to be open to public inspec- tion-
 . The Jurisdiction of the commission is limited to Incorporated telephone, ezs and electric lighting and water companies and to municipalities fur nishing these public facilities. Rail- road. trolley and electric power cor porations are not included.
 Blanks calling for facts are to be furnished to corporations for sworn replies, the penalty for refusing or \ nexIecting to reply being $25 a day. and if not found satisfactory, amend se, returns may be demanded, under the same penalty.
 corporations must furnish reason ably proper and adequate service; ; m1ast maintain their plants in "rea- sonably good condition'; may, with the commissions approval contract with or acquire other corpo- rations; and must take .'reasonable precautions'' on highways and public grounds to prevent injury to persons or property.
 They may increase capital stock or Issue bonds, but stockholders are ha- bIe for unpaid balances on their shares: shall not issue shares unless paid for in full at par, the penalty being a fine not exceeding $1.000; must report in full detail, sales of shares for other consideration than cash penalty, fine not exceeding $1.00o; if { conmission finds over-valuation in such cases, the Attorney General shah bring action. and those who knowfngly profit thereby. shall for felt the profit to the State, and in ad- dition restore the profit to the corpo- t ration, and any one abetting such a < Transaction shall be liable to fine not exceeding $1,oo0.
 If any corporation has not. for two years next preceding a stock issue, earned more than per cent. it may issue full paid stock for cash at prices nxed by it's directors.
 Issues of bonds must be registered with the State Comptroller; when cancelled, others to the same amount may be issued, with the commission's s approval and the commission must approve unless the value of the prop erty and franchises lnortgaged "is less than 50 per cent. greater than the aggregate- of all the bonds'' previously Issued and uncancelled, together with the bonds to be issued; the commis- sion may approve bonds ''to take up prior indebtedness" or whenever 1t is deemed best for the interest of the corporation "and not against the pub lie interest"
 Corporations may erect, construct or maintain in highways or public grounds. pipes, wires, etc., but must first present their plans to the muni- cfpal authorities who may accept or modify them, in which event the cor poratfon may appeal to this commits sion, neglect of the municipality to I either accept or modify to be con- sidered a rejection.
 Telephone corporations shall not place poles, wires, etc, on or under { public highways or grounds, or change their location, without the consent of land owners, but telephone or electric companies may petition the commis- sion for . finding of public conven- fence and necessity and for an ap- praisal of damages, and under such finding and appraisal, and with the commissions consent, the corporation may proceed.
 Meters shall, upon request, be in spected in order to determine proper S charges; they shall also be inspected monthly to ascertain the quality and purity of gas, if so requested by mu- nfcipal authorities, and if the gas falls \ below standard fixed by the commis- ston, the company shall make propor- tfonate deductions to it's customers municipalities may buy proper appara- tus to be used in the tests, as may also the company but it may only use me- ters approved by the commission.
 Any person injured by the failure Of corporations to give proper and adeqtate service,' may complain to the commissfon which shall investi- Z gate and, finding cause, shall recom-
 mend a proper remedy3 in the event Of non-compliance by the corporation 2 the Attorney General may bring suit to enforce compliance.
 zl6 commission is authorized te