St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-08-06

neglect to conduct an investigation
of the telephone conditions, there is
less tendency to lay censure on the
public service commission. I'm
doubtedly there is much more about
the disagreement between the exc
cutiVe and the commission which
has not. been revealed to the pub
lie, so that the public, although
stirred by the developments in the
case, will withhold final judgment
until such time as the full facts are
known.
Meanwhile, the position appar-
emily taken by the public service
commission must be commended as
sensible. 1t goes without saying
that the people of Vermont were
with Governor Fletcher in move
ment to secure better regulation
and perhaps to reduce the charges
of telephone service, because many
complaints of inadequate service
and of charges which were consid-
cred too high have been made; tut
at the same time the people of the
state desired to be fair with the
corporation furnishing that service,
not wishing to handicap it by unfair
| treatment or to cripple it by undue
inroads on its receipts.
necessary to conduct a much more
thorough investigation than was
conducted by the special counsel
employed by the state: 1t would be
necessary to hold meetings in vari-
ous places where complaints of poor
service and exorbiant charges orig
mated and to give the telephone cor
portation full opportunity to express
/ its side of the matter in defense OF
it's policy. Moreover, the body which
was expected to pass judgment ought
itself to be the investigating agency
or at least ought to be the judge be-
fore whom the facts IN the case
were submitted. In ordinary court
procedure, after which the conduct
of this kind of action largely pat
terms. it is usually customary Tor
the court which is to pass judgment
to hear the evidence in the case,
both prosecution and the defense,
and then to render decision as near
ly as possible in conformity With
the facts as presented. In this par
ticuIar instance, the Vermont pub
lie service commission had not
heard the evidence in the telephone
Investigation; the defending com
many had not appeared before the
commission to state its defense; the
commission was asked to render
what amounts to a court Vero!ct
simply by basing judgment on the
presentations Of one side of the in
yestigation, which happened to be
the states side, as made by the
special counsel employed by the
state. The public service commas
sion could not have issued an order
without laying itself liable to the
charge of "railrOading case
through against the telephone cor
poration; and the people OF lne
state. while DESTROYS Of having griev-
ances set right, are not prepared 10
engage in such rush methods as
that The more orderly and fair
course would have been for the pub
lie service commission to, grant
hearings, listen to the complaints
and to the defense, weigh the evil
deuce and then render its verdict;
but. not having conducted such a
hearing. the public service commits
sion was undoubtedly 1ustlned IN
not issuing an order ON the recon-
mendation of the special counsel
emnloved by the state although
If is quite believed that
there is cause for grievance back OF
the numerous complaints that nave
been entered. however, IL tHeIe " 1o
failure by the public service com
mission to conduct an investigator
after well-grounded charges had
been made, that is another matter
10 be considered and the truth or
If perhaps will come out in the later
revelations.-[B Barre Times.
Credit to st. JOhnsbury
st. Johnsbury ought to be proud
of the new structure which graces
one of it's business streets, for the
Masonic temple, which was dedl-
Gated last Tuesday to the uses LOT
which it was intended, is hand
some building and adds greatly to
the beauty of the village, and its
appointments must add much to the
convenience and enjoyment OF the
members of that fraternal order.
It is so much better than the usual
construction of fraternity buildings
in Vermont that it deserves the
attention which the newspapers and
the people of ST. Johnsbury gave to
it this week.-[ Barre Times.