The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-05-05

shall have the right at all times tc
inspect all accounts kept by utilities
Must Have Good Service at Proper
Rates.-Another section provides that
every public utility shall furnish nee
essary and adequate service and faeil
tiles which shall be just and reason
able, and every unjust or unreason
able charge for service Is declared "a
be unlawful.
Rebates Declared Unlawful. - No
public utility shall, directly or indi,
rectly, collect or receive from any
| person or corporation q greater or
less compensation than II receives
] from any person or corporation. No
free service or service for less than
actual cost shall be furnished for the
purpose of destroying competition,
and all discriminatory service is de-
clared unlawful.
Rates For Public Inspection
Every public utility shah print and
file with the commission a schedule
showing all rates, charges for service
OF every kind. and no change shall be
made in any rate unless authorized
by the commission, and the commits
sion, II II does authorize any change,
may designate the time at which
these changes are TO take effect.
Provides For Public Hearlngs.--
UEon complaint In writing against
any utility regarding any charge or
rental tho commission is TO notify
the utility complained Of that a COM
plant has been made, and after full
hearing may issue orders fixing what
It considers a just and reasonable
charge.
Councils Power to Fix Rates.-lt is
further provided that council OF any
municipality in which a public util-
ity is established at any time within
or at the expiration Of any such grant
between a municipality and the util-
ity entered into under provisions OF
sections 1892 and 1898 OF the General
Code, with respect to rate or rental
to be charged or collected for any
service, may proceed 20 fix the price
sr rental that such utility may charge,
This relates especially to gas, water
Ind electric light companies. If there
Is any dissatisfaction with the rate
mentioned per cent Of the users Of
such utility who are users 30 days
prior to the filing OF such complaint
may go before the commission and
demand a hearing in regard to tho
justness of the rate. r the commits
sion is Of the opinion, after a hearing,
that the rental or charges so fixed by
council are unjust or unreasonable,
the commission shall, with regard to
the value Of the property actually
used, fix a rate which viii be a fair
return upon the property used to fur.
nish this service.
State Regulates competitIon.-No
utility shall exercise any permit, Ii
cense or franchise to own or operate
a plant for the furnishing Of service
or any product or commodity in any
locality where there is in operation
a utility furnishing a like service or |
unless such Utility first Sc
cures from the commission a certifi-
cate, after public hearing, that the
granting of such a franchise is proper /
and necessary for the public convent
ence.
Regulating captaIlzation.-There IS
also a further stringent provision in .
vnvorIfV,~r
.talization of railroads and other utili-
lies, and it is provided that utilities
nay issue stocks, bonds, notes or other
evidence of Indebtedness at periods OF
more than 12 months only with the
consent Of the commission, and the
proceeds Of the sale CT these securi-
les shall not be used for any pur-
pose except for the acquisition OF
and the construction Of new
ines or the improvement of existing
or for the discharge of its
and the commission shall
'equire the utility to keep its ac-
counts and vouchers Of such expendl-
ures in such manner as to enable the
to ascertain the amount
If money so expended and the pur-
,oses for which it was used.
Makes Penitentiary offense.--It Is
provided that any director or officer
# any utility who shall knowingly
make any false statement to secure
he issue of securities shall be guilty
# a felony, and shall be fined not
ess than $500, or be imprisoned in
he penitentiary for not less than one
ear or more than ten, and fines and
are provided for officers
r employees who fail to comply with
riders of the commission.
Can't Capitalize Hot Air.-The com.
Mission is denied the power to au.
horize the capitalization of any fran
hise whatever in excess Of tho
mount actually paid to the state or
ounty as a consideration for such
ranchise, neither shall the capital
took of utility formed by the mer-
er or consolidation Of two or more