Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-05-04
a franchise authorizing

obtaining a franchise authorizing
such work.
To obtain such franchise an appli-
cation should be made to the Public
Service Commission, or to the Con-
servation Commission, il it is made
a permanent and important body as
it should be, and has already been in
many states. The application should
contain all information needed to
give full understanding of the sit-
uation. This information should he
sworn TO by the person or persons,
or officers of corporation or munich
pality making the application The
commission designated to receive
such applications should set date
for public hearing on said applica-
tion, and said public hearing should
be held, if possible, in the town or
city nearest the site of the proposed
improvements. At the hearing the
commission should hear the appli-
cants or agents of applicants asking
for the franchise, and any person, or
agents of persons opposed to said
franchise The commission should
have the right to subpoena any wit
nesses whom it might wish to hear
on the subject Upon the conclusion
OF the hearing, said commission
should carefully consider all the
evidence and facts obtained, and if
they find that the improvements
asked for in the application shall
promote, conserve and protect all
public rights in such waters, and
will not endanger the life. health or
property OF the public, and that said
improvements will serve the inter
ests of the public better than any
Eother, then said commission should
have the power to grant such fran
chIse, with the approval of the gov
ernor of the state If, on the other
hand, it is found that public rights
would not be conserved, or that the
life, health or property of the public
would be endangered, then the said
commission should refuse the appli-
cation.
All construction of dams, or other
improvements should he absolutely
under the supervision of the COM
mission, and If the holder of the
franchise should not obev any order
pf the commission, the franchise
SHOULD at once he cancelled.
Two most important points have
not peen mentioned: The period for
which the franchise should be grant
ell, and the remuneration the state
should receive for such franchises
In Wisconsin the franchise is
granted for twenty years with the
privilege of two renewals This term
seems to me too short. and should
advocate franchise for one hundred
years, with regulations for adjusting
it at the end of the term.
As to the remuneration the state
should receive, Wisconsin collects
i've per cent on the value of each
horse power, with certain restric-
tions Would it not be better for this
state to impose franchise fee of a
certain per cent on the gross earn
Iings of any such improvement, and
it, for any reason. the improvements
were not used, to impose fee OF a
liked sum graded according to the
value ~ the franchise? Failure te
pay the franchise fee should forfeit
tile franchise, and it should be dis
tlnctly understood that the franchise
fee is not tax and does not take the
place Of any tax
! There are very many other details,
such as the right to appeal to the
courts, etc that it is not necessary
TO mention here, but the foregoing
| gives general idea Of the Legislation
that would strongly nrge for enact
ment by the Legislature of our state
d 1t is TO he hoped that some such plai
f3r the regulation of our natural re-
sources will soon be adopted by the
state of Vermont