The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-07-29
OF WARNER TOO
Continued from Page -

There was discussion over the
manner Of procedure in which ! took
the position that the commission
could not legally issue an order before
a notice and hearing had been given
the telephone companies. The claim
OF the special counsel was that if the
telephone companies were given an
opportunity to show cause why our
order should not stand the law was
complied with and in this they We're
eloquently supported by the govern
or who announced that he had laid
the matter before the attorney general
and that the latter fully agreed with
the position taken by His Excellency.
After a long discussion in which
led in holding back, the commits
sioners left Governor Fletcher with
the understanding that they would
issue an order in the form suggested
by the special counsel S report. 1t
was my duty to draw that order
| worked long and faithfully to do it.
succeeded in making a tentative
form which | submitted to the at
torney general for his opinion and
suggestions or criticisms. His reply
has not yet been received.
con the publication of the special
counsel s report issue of fact
was Immediately taken by the New
England Telephone company and the
public service commission received
protests from various Independent
companies also making issue of fact
directly contrary to the report. / sweat
blood because | had told the govern
or / would produce an order such
as the special counsel s report re-
| commended but | could not bring
myself to sign the order | had drafted
tell him so. To my astonishment
same mind. At Nergennes on July %
the following note was taken by the
commission and unanimously adopted:
=. At a general session of the public
service commissions held at Nergennes
on July p, 1913, at which all the
commissioners were present the mat
ter of a public investigation of the
telephone situation in Vermont and
the report Of the special counsel APP
pointed by the governor to investigate
| the subject were considered.
. 1t was voted that the report of
the special counsel and the letter of
| Governor Fletcher by which the report
was transmitted to us constitutes Il
| proper complaint upon which we should
| proceed to hold a public hearing in
connection with other private com
| plants and developments coming to
our personal knowledge III various pub
| lie county meetings.
| So It is therefore ordered that notice
be sent to each person or company
owning, operating or controlling a
telephone line or business in Yer
mont OF public meeting for the
purpose of a hearing upon such com
plants, to be held in Montpelier on q
day to be fixed by the commission, NOT
later than ---, 1913.
cit was further voted that the
commission adopt the following
method of procedure: That notice
be given to the telephone companies
to appear and show cause, among other
things:
* l. Why existing rates for tele
phone rentals should not he subject
to the schedule named in said report
of the special counsel.
& =. Why existing toll rates
should not be subject to a 20 per cent
reduction, except tolls not exceeding
ten cents.
lit was also voted that a genera
order be forthwith issued prohibiting