The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-13

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planning consumer.
Every public utility shall file with
the service commission a schedule of
it's rates or charges, which shall be
open to public inspection; also all
regulations which shall affect such
charges or rates. After such filing
there shall be no change of rates ex-
cept upon 20 days notice to the COM
mission, though an entire schedule of
new rates may be filed on 10 days no.
tice. To charge Or collect more than
the scheduled rates is made unlawful.
Nor shall any public utility grant any
rebate, concession or special privilege.
The commission may prescribe rules
for inspections, tests, audits and in
vestigations. 1t shall keep itself in
formed as to the conduct of the bust
ness of all public utilities.
1t is authorized to employ an en-
gineer at a salary of 50, 400 per year.
1t shall investigate all complaints,
but shall not make any reduction in
rates charged by public utilities ex-
cept after a formal hearing.
Witnesses summoned before the
commission are to receive the same
fees as in ordinary court cases.
No wne or agent of a public util-
ity shall be excused from testifying
because his testimony might subject
him or his company to a forfeiture or
other penalty, but he may not be
prosecuted nor made liable to any for
fixture for such testimony.
The attorney general is made the
Inoo1 a1uicnr of tn cnrrpjscinp and
at its request he shall institute such
proceedings as may be desired by the
commission. In certain cases county
attorneys may also act in a similar
capacity.
Any party in interest may appeal
from any order or regulation made by
the commission. and such cases shall
have precedence in the courts over
other causes of action. The burden of
proof is laid upon any person attack
ing the rulings of the commission, and
60 days are allowed for an appeal to
a higher court. courts are forbidden
to issue injunctions restraining the
commission without notice.
Public utilities are required to re-
port all accidents, and the cause
thereof to the commission.
The commission is authorized to
bring mandamus, injunction or other
proceedings.
Each section of the act is declared
to be independent of every other sec
ton, and the holding of one section
unconstitutional shall not affect the
other sections of the act.
The sum of $4,000 is appropriated
for the ensuing two years.
Senate Bill No. IA, by Whiteside.
This law provides that acknowl-
edgementS may be made before either
a clerk of the district court, a notary
public, a justice of the peace or a
United States commissioner.
Senate Bill No.. 10, by Croft.
By this law the government of the
United States, or the commissioner of
fisheries or his agents, is authorized
to conduct fish hatcheries at a United
States fish cultural station to be es-
tablished in Montana by the United
States government.
Senate Substitute Bill No. IS.
This makes it obligatory for every
railroad company to maintain, at ev-
cry point outside incorporated cities
where a regularly established county
road crosses railroad tracks, a suffi-
cient grade crossing, at a level with
the rails, made of lumber, concrete or
other like material, and also to main
tain suitable approaches thereto.
County attorneys are required to en-
~, tho 1nr- arl Tho ~a;l,rnl o1,,,
mission may also direct compliance
and enforce it. The act does not go
into effect for 60 days from it's APP
prevail. After 80 days notice, each
days refusal by a railroad company to
maintain a crossing ordered is penal
lied by a fine of $40.
Senate Bill 18, by Larson.
This law provides that any person,
firm or corporation, foreign or do
nestle, engaged in the production,
manufacture or distribution of any
commodity in general use in this state
that shall Intentionally, to prevent
competition or to destroy competition,
discriminate betWeen different sec
tons, communities or parts of the
state by selling such products at lower
rates than in any other section, after
equalizing distance and freight rates,
shall be deemed guilty of unfair dis
elimination. Upon conviction of this
offense the offender shall be fined not
less than 5000, nor more han $4,000.
1t is made the duty of the attorney
general to investigate violations of the
law and to bring prosecutions there
under. The courts are given authority