Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-05-11
NEN TELEPHONE LAW
Telephone Co.'S. to be Supervised by
state Railroad Commission
RATES FIXED BY THAT B00|
Five Gents Pays for Switching From One Co
10 Another

Last week. St Johns News had the
following interesting item relative to
the Giles bill, passed at the recent
session OF the legislature: One OF
the laws passed by the legislature Of
1911 which has stirred up great deal
of interest throughout the state, is
that declaring telephone companies
common carriers, and placing them
squarely under the control OF Michi-
gan railroad commission This act
was introduced by Mr.. Giles OF Mus
kegon, and is based on what was
known as the Baker bill, introduced
by Mr. Baker in the legislature of
1909. The bill was introduced at the
request OF the grange, and had the
backing of the oranges and farmers
organizations of the state This law
has received the signature OF Gov
ernor OSBORNE and becomes a law 90
days after adjournment of the legis-
lature which would be about Aug. 1.
The law places the control and
regulation of the telephone companies
of the state, and of all persons or CO.
partnerships operating telephone lines
or exchanges in the state under the
State Railroad Commission, even
making it necessary before any lines
or exchanges can be constructed for
the parties desiring to make such CON
struction to get certificate from the
commission stating that such contem-
plated line or exchange is a public
necessity or convenience All tele-
phone companies are required to fur
nsh reasonably adequate service and
facilities for use OF their lines by the
public
"1his law makes it unlawful for any
telephone company either directly or
indirectly TO collect or receive from
any person, partnership or corpora
ton, a greater or less compensation
for any service rendered or performed,
or TO be rendered or performed than
it charges. demands, collects, or re-
ceives from any other person, firm or
corporation for a like service. This
provision OF the law destroys abso-
lutely any discrimination in rentals or
other charges made by telephone com
panicS, and at once wipes out all in
equalities OF rates
The law also provides that all rates
of every nature shall be fair and rea-
sonable. and shall be at all times sub
ject to review and regulation by the
railroad commission They can raise
or lower rates. if in their judgment
they are not sufficient 10 furnish good
view of the service rendered These
last two provisions OF the law make
competition in the telephone business
absolutely unnecessary as a means OF
securing either better service, reduced
rates, or equality of rates. for on
showing to the commission that such
inequalities of rates exist, or that rates
are too high in view of service rem
dered, the commission is bound TO or
der hearing on the case, and on
proper showing, can make such or
ders as they shall deem necessary 10
cover the case, and the law gives them
power to put such orders in force
Another provision of the law max
ing for the public benefit is that re-
quiring competing lines in same cities
to exchange messages. or rather TO
make connections with the subscribers
Of other lines. This is made on the
payment of five cents for each such
connection made, in addition to the
regular toll line service, if any such
toll is charged
"The commission is given full power
to order hearings, summon witnesses,