The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-13
REVIEW Of THE BILLS NOW PASSED
AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR STEWART
Interesting Is Synopsis of the Work of the Thirteenth
Legislature and the Analysis of the
the New Laws 1t Made.

Beginning a review of the actual re-
suits of the work of the Thirteenth
general assembly, as shown in the
bills passed and signed by Governor
Stewart, an analysis of the following
laws will be of interest:
Senate Bill No. I, by Stout.
Under this law there will be sub
mitted to a vote of the qualified cleo
tors of Montana an amendment to the
state constitution to strike hi word
male from the organic act where it
appears in relation to the qualification
to vote and to hold office. 1t is popu-
larly known as the Woman's suffrage
amendment.
Senate Bill No. 2, by Leary.
For the appointment of a warden of
the state prison by the governor, and
fixing the salary of the warden at
$4,000 per annum. Also making the
officer removable by the state board
of prison commissioners for 1niscon-
duct in office or derelection of duty.
Senate Bill No. 10, by Byrnes.
This law makes the railroad COM
mission Of the state also a public
service commission. The work of both
is to be kept separate.
Public utilities are to be under the
supervision and control of the service
commission. A public utility is de-
fined to embrace every corporation,
both public and private, company, in
dividual or association of individuals,
that now or hereafter may own, oper-
ate or control any plant or equipment,
or any part of any plant or equipment,
within the state for the production,
delivery or furnishing for or to other
persons, firms, associations or corpor-
ations, private or municipal, neat,
street car service, light, power in any
fern or by any agency, water for
business, manufacturing, household
use, or sewerage, whether within the
limits of municipalities, cities or vii
lagos, or elsewhere; telegraph or tcle-
phone service.
over these the public service COM
mission is invested with full powers of
supervision, regulation n control, to
the exclusion of the jurisdiction, regu-
lation or control of such public utili-
ties by any municipality, town or viii
lage. That is to say, the municipal
ity owning it's water or lighting sys-
tenn is without power to fix rates or
regulate service, but that authority is
bestowed upon the state commission.
This will prevent any comparison OF
rates between municipality owned INT
privately owned water or lighting sys-
TENS.
The commission is not 70 have i'll
dicial powers, nor is any person to be
denied the right to test any order or
regulation Of the commission in the
courts. The court review feature is
covered at length and with particu-
larity. Any public utility nay resist
the rates fixed and appeal to the dis
trict court having jurisdiction, and
thence to the higher courts. The
courts are expressly authorized to
aGjudicate the 'reasonableness' of
any rate or order of the commission.
Every public utility is required to
furnish reasonably adequate service,
and the charge therefor must be rcas-
enable; otherwise it il declared to be
unlawful.
The commission may in its discre-
NI'll ooSSl lGlIll Az N"iot vi tiS li'f
erty actually used by any public util-
ity for the convenience of the public,
and at any time make a reValuation
of such property" There is no pro
vision that the value thus ascertained
shall be the basis for the fixing of
rates by the commission
Public utilities must return to the
service commission full accounts of
all business transacted, and shall keep
an office in one Of the towns or cities
in which it's property, or a part there
of is situated. The books and accounts
of the public utility must be kept in
such office, and they may not be re-
moved from the state.
The service commission is to make
and publish annual reports, and its
books and records must at all times
be open to public inspection.
The commission shall ascertair and
fix adequate and serviceahle stand
ards for measurement of quality,
pressure or other condition pertaining
to the product or service rendered to
the public, and shall provide reason
able regulations for the examining or
testing of products of service. Any
consumer may nave the appliances for
measurement etc, tested by the SER
vice commission, providing he shall
pay the fee to be required. In case
appliances are found to be defective
the public utility using them shall be