Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-05-15
PUBLIC UTILITY
BOARD is BUSY
All Kinds of Trouble Rsferr-
ed to II From All Parts
CFrom the NEWS Corrsspondent.)


Trenton, May 15:-Members Of the
Public Utility Commission are begin
ming to realize that their positions are
not sinecures. The new public utility
law has given the commission jurisdie-
ton over so much that the work of
the commissioners has been increased at
least three-fold. With the Easton
wreck to investigate, the case Of one
of the big tobacco companies seeking
its aid relative to a controversy about
a siding, the three-cent fare for school
children, and a proposition regarding
utility rates in Ocean Grove, the board
has plenty of work mapped out for
the next month to come.
1t will probably be the fashion here
after, when the citizens of a commun-
ity have a notion that there is any
thing wrong in the public utility rates,
to present a petition to the board
asking for relief. Of course, the board
will hardly be in a position to grant
the request at once. An investigation
will be required, and that means con
siderable time.
Ocean Grove Appeals.
One of the first communities to re-
fer the question of the cost Of cleo
tric light and gas, and the question as
to whether or not the community g
getting proper service, is Ocean Grove,
Some of the residents of that place are
not satisfied that the gas and electric
light company is giving the servive
the people are entitled to have, in con-
sideration of the money paid for both.
Hence, they petition the Public Utili-
ty Commission to ascertain the true
state of affairs.
Under. the provisions Of the public
utility act, the commission has the
power to fix rates, and the Ocean
Grove case will be a practical test of
it should find that the residents of
Ocean Grove are not getting exactly
the kind of service they ought to have
in view of the money they pay for the
same, then a reduction of the rates in
effect at present may be ordered.
In like manner when a manufactur-
ing firm fails to get what is consider
ed fair treatment from a railroad
corporation an appeal is likely to the
Public Utility Commission. In order
to determine the merits in a dispute
Of this sort the commission will be
obliged to make an investigation.
Hence, it is evident that much time
viii probably be spent for several
months in determining certain phases
of the law, which may be regarded
thereafter as presidents applicable to
similar cases.
SOmmer's appointment.
The selection of Frank H. Som
mers, a former member of the com
mission, as the special counsel for
one year at a salary of $1,000 a
year, the same as the members, has
been generally commended. Having
served on the commission Mr.. Som
mer is familiar with its work. He
had much to do with the drafting of
the present bill, and isc therefore, ia
with its provisions.
The commission is handicapped by
a shortage of funds this year. Hence,
the salary offered Is the same figure
as that designated for the commits
sioners. At the end Of the year the
question of his reappointment will
have consideration, as we'll as the
of providing for an Increase
in the salary to be paid to the
sci. Mr.. Sommer will do his part In
the vast amount of work that Is al
ready mapped out for the commits
sion to handle in the first year Of
its existence under the new public
utility law.