Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-28

Inc puDIlc ctlltleS Dill, winch was
drafted by the Democratic caucus
committee came into the House Fri
day morning and was referred to the
committee on judiciary, which now
has the Davies bill on the same SUBJ
ject, which came over from last ses-
sion. II was understood at the Demo-
cratic caucus that the bill was to be
presented by Representative Scates
OF Westbrook, but for some reason or
other it was Mr.. Pattangall who pre-
scented 1t ard he will have charge of
the measure in its progress in the
House. The bill is Il lengthy one.
there being some rs sections in all to
it. and would fill a complete newspa-
per page or more, The bill places un-
der the direction of the public utili-
ties commission all steam and electric
roads, heat. light and power plants and
aholisnes the railroad and water stor-
age commissioners. The following
abstract gives its leading features:
Section of the act provides that the
Office of railroad commissioner and
the board created and known as the
Railroad Commission and the State
Water Storage Commission are here
by abolished and all of the powers
now vested in said boards together
with all of the duties and privileges
now imposed or conferred upon said
board by and under the existing laws
or the Public Utilities Commission of
Maine. hereby created.
Section provides that one member
of this commission shall be designated
by the Governor as chairman and said
chairman shall receive an annual sal
airy of $4,000; each or the remaining
members shall receive an annual sal
AIRY of $500, and actual travelling ex-
penses. The chairman of the COM
mission first appointed shall hold Of
flee for five years. and the other mem
bers Cor one, two, three and four years.
the terms to be designated 10y the
Governor. All members thereafter ap-
pointed shall hold office for five wears.
Section 10 provides that every pub
lie utility shall file with the COM
mission within a time to be fixed by
the commission. schedules open to
public inspection, showing all rates.
tolls and charges, which it has estab-
lished and which are in force at the
time for any service performed by ii
within the State. No change is to be
made in any schedule except upon
10 days. notice to the commission
Section Is gives the commission au-
thority to inquire into the manage
nent of the business of all public utili-
ties ana the right to obtain from any
public utility all necessary information
to enable the commission to perform
its duties. The following section gives
the commission or commissioner or
any person, or persons employed by
the commission for that purpose the
right upon demand to inspect the
books and records of any public utili-
ty. The commission is authorized TO
any public utility to produce
its records in the same manner that
a summons is served in civil action In
tine supreme judicial court.
Section % provides that upon a com
plant made against any public util-
ity by any body polite or munich
pal organization. or by any % persons.
firms, corporations or associations
that any of the rates. tolls. charges,
or schedules or any joint rate or rates
of any public utility are in any re-
spect unreasonable or unjustly dis
criminatory. or that any regulation
measurement. practice or act of said
public utility is in any respect unrea-
sonable. insufficient or unjustly dis
or that any service is in
adequate or cannot be obtained, this
commission shall proceed with or with
out notice to make such investigation as
it may deem necessary or convenient.
But no order affecting said rates, tolls
charges, schedules, regulations. meas
urements, practice or act complained
of shall be entered by the commission
without formal hearing.
Section 26 provides the commission
with power if rates are found unjust
to fix and order substituted therefor
such rates. tolls charges or schedules
as shall be just and reasonable, and If
any practices. acts or services are I'M
just. unreaSona bic. preferential or un-
justly discriminatory or service is in
adequate the commission may make
such changes as shall be deemed Just
and reasonable.
Section 80 provides that any public
utility may make complaint as to any
matter affecting its own product or
service with like effect as though
made by anv other society. institution
or person. Each of the commissioners
and every agent of the commission Is
given power for the purposes of the act
to compel the attendance of witnesses
and any judge of the supreme court
shall compel obedience. by proceedings
for contempt.
The bill provides that when decision
is made against a public utility after
complaint the commission shall direct