The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-04-22
PROVISIONS OF THE UTILI-
TIES BILL.

The commission provided for bv the
bill is TO be composed of three members
appointed by the Governor. The chair
man is TO receive Sc, 900 a year and each
of the other two S, 900 year The COM
mission is to be appointed and the names
announced ten days before the first Mon
day in May. 1910. The term of office of
the commissioners now to be appointed
is to be two years, four wears and six
years. respectively, the Governor to des-
ignate when he appoints the commission
ers which one is to serve for two years,
which four years and which six years
After the expiration of the terms of each
of the first appointees, the terms of all are
to be for six years. If the term of six
years is held TO be invalid, the term of
each of the commissioners is to be limited
TO two years.
The Governor. upon the recommcn-
dation of the commissioners, will alone
appoint general counsel to the commits
sioners whose salary is to be s.. 500 a
year, and his term of Office six years, or
two years, as in the case of the commits
sloners. There will also be an assistant
counsel TO be appointed by the general
counsel, whose salary is TO be $1,000 a
year. The secretary of the commission
is to get 5000 a year, and the chief
stenographer s. 500.
The jurisdiction and the powers OF
the commission extend over all public
service corporations in the State, includ-
ing all common carriers, steam railroads,
street railways. steamboats,, canals and
canal companies. ferryboats, gas and
electric fa1atNhnne and ts.la-
graph companies. light. heat and refrieer-
atlng companies, water and water power
companies and virtually every other
species of public utilities corporation.
The commission has power to deter
mine rates to be charged by each public
service corporation subject to the act.
These rates are required by the act itself
to be just and reasonable. The commits
sion is vested with full and plenary powers
to conduct Investigations in order to en-.
able 1t to ascertain what rates in the case
of each particular public service corpora.
ton are just and reasonable.
Among the powers gwen to the com.
mission for the purpose Of enabling it to
determine what are just and reasonable
rates are the following: To summons and
examine witnesses, to require the pro
duction OF all books and papers, to enter
tain complaints and conduct hearings
with respect TO the reaSonableness of rates
and charges, to require switch connec.
tons, to require public schedules to be
made out for the railroad companies. to
prohibit undue preferences and discrimi.
nations on the part OF railroad companies,
gas companies or any other companies
subject to the act; to require the inter.
change of passengers and freight, to pre-
vent diSCrlmna'ioH between carriers, tc
prevent unjust discrimination with respect
to long and short hauls and to require
safe and reasonably adequate and proper
service on the part OF the various Corpor.
atoms.
Uniform systems OF accounts may be
required if the commission sees fit. Con
troll over the issuance OF new franchises OF
privileges and over the transfer Of fran
Chises is vested in the commission. The
corporations subject TO the III MAY. with
the consent OF the Commission, issue
stocks, bonds or other securities. PAYABLE
more than IL months after date. wher
necessary tn acquire property or for the
construction, completion. extension OF
Improvement Of their facilities, or for the
Improvement or maintenance Of theil
s-rvice, or their discharge or lawful re
funding of their obligation. The commits
sion is given power to enforce it.
orders in various ways provided by the
act. Power is also given it. whenever i
may deem it desirable to do so. to value
the property of any public service corpor
alton, but such valuation shall be so made
that as far as possible it shall not affec
the value of bonds heretofore issued b,
any such corporation.
THE capitalization OF merger agree
ments or franchises of public service cor
porations and the issuance of stocks i.
prohibited. except that the amount &C
tually paid for franchise may be mad,
the basis of capitalization and the issuance
of stocks and securities.
! The amount of SIS. 600 per .annum, O.
so much thereof as may be necessary. il
appropriated for the salaries and expen
ses of the commission and for carryins
| out the purposes of the act. Provision /
made for biennial audits by the Stat,
auditor Of all the receipts and expense
of the commission. All acts or paris o
acts heretofore passed fixing the rates o
any public service corporation are re
pealed. and the powers OF the commission
10 ascertain rates which are REASONABLE,
and just supersede all such acts prescrib
ing rates.
The repeal of these acts includes tn,
repeal of the existing act fixing the pric,
of gas in Baltimore at 81 10. and give
the commission full power to reduce it t.
any figure which may be determined t.
be just and reasonable"