The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-02-01
THE SUPERVISION OF SERVICE
BY TELEPHONE COMPANIES
Is SOME STUNT.
VISIONS OF GREAT IRON WORKS
TO BE ESTABLISHED.
The Regulation Of Telephone Service
and the Taxation Of Mines Pre-
sent Very interesting Features
to the People Of Michigan.
by Gurd M. Hayes.]


supervision over the telephone prop
critics of the state. What to do about
the regulation and supervision of the
telephone business Is a matter over
which there is great deal of differ
ence Of opinion and not great deal
of information upon which to base
decision. There are three or four bills
before the legislature providing for the
supervision of these public service
corporations in charge of the railroad
commission. At the same time there
is discomfort over the present regu-
lations there is confusion throughout
the state over what should be done.
For instance, the state railroad COM
mission has been requested by dozen
different cities to aid in getting rid of
the double telephone service, while
from about dozen others have come
applications for authority to organize
a competing system and install double
telephone systems in these communi-
ties Ultimately 1t is expected that
the state railroad commission will be
unable to prescribe for the telephone
companies the rentals they shall
charge, based on authentic showing
as to their earnings and deciding how
much they should be allowed to charge
off for depreciation and the other
items allowable for conducting the
business and the amount of profit they
shall be allowed to make before re-
ducing their charges. The proposition
is one, however, of such size as to re-
quire some time to work out and in the
meantime the telephone companies,
and the railroad commission, are re-
ceiving many complaints.
Conserve Mineral Resources.
In the near future bill will be in
troduced in the legislature to conserve
the mineral resources of the state for
the benefit of Michigan. 1t is pointed
out that the vast store of mineral re-
sources of the upper peninsula, is un.
der the present system, sent out of the
state to enrich others, resulting ulti-
mately in the state being left with
numerous deep holes in the ground
and decrepit section robbed of its
riches with no corresponding return
to the commonwealth or it's people.
The bill as proposed provides for
a tonnage tax on ores, based on a
scale which will meet the differences
in mining conditions and the richness
of the ores. That part of the measure
source of political argument for many
years, but the new feature which looks
attractive to those interested in the
we'll being of the state, adds pro-
vision for rebating of this tax If the
ore Is manufactured into iron within
the confines of the state. Those pro-
posing this innovation in state regu-
lation of it's resources have visions of
huge mills in sections of the state &C
cessible to the iron and copper mines,
and growth to the industrial i'm
portance of the state. far beyond the
dreams of the boosters for Michigan.
1t is pointed out that IL the owners
of the iron resources of the state were
obliged to manufacture the ore into
= iron within the state, huge mills would
be established at ports along the lakes
and Industrial centers would be estab-
lished that would give to Michigan the
place now held by those cities in the
east famed for their wealth made from
the ores mined in Michigan.
Drinking Cups for Sale.
Railroads and those in charge of
public buildings will find themselves
guilty of misdemeanors If they fail to
establish drinking cup vending ma
chimes at their drinking fountains, IL
the bill introduced by Rep. Schmidt,
of Osceola, ever becomes law. The
bill provides that the vending machine
must be maintained near the fountains
exceed one cent each. Glass. wax or
parafine cups may be furnished from
the machine.
State Police Force.
A bill has been introduced by Rep.
J. N. Mcbride, of Shiawassee, provid-
ing for the establishment of state
police force of 100 men-to do the work
of the game, forest and fire warden's
department as well as to act as state
constabulary in case of disturbance or
need anywhere, in the need Of an or
ganized force. In explaining the bill
Rep. Mcbride said that the Intention
is to relieve the Michigan National
Guard Of all duty of this nature within
the state.