Evening journal., 1913-05-17
| TlLITIES
COMMISSION
AFTER LIGHT
Asks City Solicitor to Define
What Rights it Has
Under Law
REQUEST TROLLEY COS.
TO IMPROVE TRACKAGE


time, the Board of Public Utility Com
missioners yesterday afternoon decid-
ed TO submit to City Solicitor Daniel
D. Hastings a list of questions to be
answered by him. The list was sub
mitted by Commissioner Bacher 1t
follows:
Docs the board have any regula-
live power and powers to make need
I'd Investigations and to enforce re-
medal orders for the benefit of the
public?
Does the part Of Section / which
say. mo person shall be eligible to
serve as a member of the board who
shall he employed by or hold any Of
Zee in any transportation, lighting,
telegraph, or telephone company op-
Grating in the city of Wilmington or
In any way financially interested
therein disqualify any person who
holds bonds or stocks, or is direc-
tor OF a bank il such bank holds
bonds or stocks of any public utility
under the boards jurisdiction from
being a member? Also if any per-
son has financial relation in respect
to selling goods to any such public
utility?
Does Section 2 Of the act give the
board the power to employ inspec-
tors and such other persons as 1t may
deem necessary. to buy such mater
ials. apparatus and standard measur-
ing and testing instruments as the
board may deem necessary? Has the
board the power to employ an as
sistant secretary, or pay the secretary
an additionl salary 90 the mount
he receives as secretary to the
mayor? Has the board the power to
employ a legal advisor II the city
solicitor has any financial or profess
sional relation with any public utility
under the boards jurisdiction?
Does paragraph A. Section 4. give
the board the power to require every
public utility to have and keep in
repair all streets upon which such
public utility operates, as is required
by the terms of their charters or
franchises?
Does paragraph B, section 4, give
he board the power to require rail-
way companies to furnish more cars
il the board should find the service
inadequate. or to equip any car with
any tenders, wheel-guards, or any
safety or testing devise, or to venti-
late or keep such cars in sanitary
condition as the board may deem
necessary?
Has the board the power TO sa,
what kind OF cars can be operated
and whether such cars shall stop OF
The near or on the far side OF th'
cross streets? Has the board thu
power 10 require the public utilities
TO piace their wires under ground2
Does paragraph c. section 4, giv'
the board power to require the pub
lie utilities under the boards iuris
diction TO keep book or record Civ
ing an annual report or account o
its finances and operations in sucl
form as the board may deem neces
ssfy so as 10 afford an intelligen
understanding Of its business?
Does paragraph f. section 4. -giv'
the board the power TO lower any rat
charged by any public utility If tn
board deems such rate to be exces
,sive or unreasonable?
IF any act or parts Of any act o
any department Of the city conflict
with the ct OF the Public Uhlit
Commission are such conflicting ac
nr parts OF an act Of such depart
ment revoked. made null and void
iuasmuch as the act of the Publ
Utility Commission was later act!
In reply to a letter sent by tn
commissioners asking for informa
lion concerning its finance. The Pee
ples Railway Company, throug
Richard w. Crook. general manage
of the company stated in commun
ication that II would be impossible 70
that company to hll in the items /
the financial reports submitted 1
blank form. These report blanks ar
similar TO those used by the Stat
Utility Commissions in Mass
achusetts and Wisconsin.
MIR Crook stated that the form
we're in no way adaptable to hi
railway and that It would be utterl
impossible for his company to con
plv with such a form. He added ths
he would be glad II the board coul
simplify the information sought $
that the company could meet III
request. After lengthy discussion
the board decided to confer win IN
officers OF all the public utility con
nanies in the city and inform thel
just what information they desires
Nr. Bacher again brought up II
eeports of the condition OF the bus
ness of the local utility compani'
complied by himself from informatio
in the hands of the board. A verbi
warfare ensued between Nj Bach'
and Mr.. Baily. The matter has bee
under discussion before the board Z
several months. It was finally d
cided that the city solicitor should
asked for an opinion whether II Won
he proper for the board to perm
newspaper men to gather informati'
from the board's files for publicatio
The secretary was instructed
notify the Central Labor Union IN
the complaint filed by 1t petiuoni1
the restoration OF siX-for-a-nnaru
tickets on the lines Of the Wilmin
ton and Philadelphia Traction Cor
pauy was still before the board al
would be acted upon as soon a Il
board has received legal advice as
the power Il possesses.
Mr.. Cleayer announced complai
made to him by Mrs Jones OF Sc
enth and CLAYTON streets. about Il
damage caused by trolley cars pas
ing over rough tracks at that poir
The woman claimed that the jar pr
iuced had caused plaster in her hon
10 fall and had damaged valuah
clock. The secretary was instruct
10 write the Peoples Railway Coz
pany requesting them to remedy q
condition.
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