The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-07-29
WATSON REFUSED
TO RESIGN AS
REQUESTED
Former Commissioner Makes
A Statement
LETTERS ARE MADE PUBLIC
Governor Fletcher Thought This TeIe-
phone Company Rates Should
Be Lowered.

st. Adams, July 29-Charles d.
Watson. former public service com
missioner. who WAS deposed by Gov
crnor Fletcher yesterday in Il state
ment presents his side OF the case as
louoW..
Complaints Ct the 1cIephone acrv
leo had been received by the com
mi~s ion from various points. Edwin
\. Cook Of Lyndon, who was af,cr-
wards appointed by the governor as
one cf the special investigating com
mission made the original complaint.
rho governor appointed special IN
vCstielting committee which WAS
agreeable 10 thc commiss ion because
Of lack OF time Tho special com
mission reported back earlier than
wc expected having been only lit
tie over a month at the work. The
report way turned over TO us In the
executive chamber ut Montpelier by
MCssrs. Cook and Graham in the
prcc cncc Of ,hc governor. Tho gov
crnCr read the report and delivered
letter with which the same WAS
transmitted to us With the report
was a brief OF facts which has not
been printed ana ccr,ain exhibits
gathered by The special cclncol in
the course of investigation.
There was discussion over the
manner OF procedure in Which took
tho position that the commission
cculd ne, legally issue an order be
fore q notice and hearing had been
given the telephone companies. The
claim of the special counsel was ,hat
if~the steieptsee. companies were Civ
On an opportunity 10 show cause why
our order should not stand the law
WAS complied with and in this they
were cloquently supported by the gov
crnor. who announced that he had
laid the matter before ,hc attorney
general and that the latter nlly aErc-
ed with the position taken by Ills liX-
ccllency
After a long discussion. in which
| led in holding back the commissions
ers | left Gov, Fletcher with the un-
dCrsiandlng tina they would issue an
order in The form suggested by the
special counscls reporD II WAS my
duty TO draw that order I worked
Icing and faithfully TO do H. sue
cCCdcd in making Il tentative form
which ! submitted to ,hc attorney
general Tor his opinion and sugEcs-
lions or criticisms. His reply has nos
yet been received.
"On The publication Of the special
cCnnscls rcpori issue of fact WAS i'm
mcdiatoly taken by the New Eng
land Telephone company and the pab
lie service commission received pro
tests from various Independent com
pennies also making issue OF fact Iii
.,cdy contrary to The report
sweat blood because / had told The
governor ! would produce an order
such as the special counscla report
recommended but could not bring
myself TO sign the order J had draft
ed and mus, face His EXccllcncy and
tell him so. 70 nay astonishment
forud The other ,wo members OF the
same mind Al Ncrgonnce on July
- the following vote was taken by
Tho commission ana unanimously
adopted.
AZ a general session OF the pub
tic service commission. held at Yer
gennes, ON july %, 1913. at which
all The commissioners were present
| the matter OF q public investigation
| OF the telephone situation i'm Yer
mont and the report of the special
counsel, appointed by The governor
90 investigate the subject. were con
sidcrcd.
1t was voted that the report OF
I The special counsel and the letter of
Gov. Fletcher by whom the report
was transmitted 10 as constitute "a
/ proper complaint upon which We
should proceed to hold a public hear
| ing i'm connection with other private
complaints and developments coming
10 our personal knowledge in various
public county meetings.
1T is therefore ordered that no
1 lice bee sent 20 each person or com
pany owning. operating OF controlling
p telephone line or business in Yer
mont of . public meeting Tor the pur.
pcse of hearing unon such complaints
/ Go DE held in Montpelier ON a day 10
/ Dc Fixed hy the commission not later
han 1913.
1T Was further voted that the
/ commission adopt the following me.
| thod of procedure thai notice be civ.
On io the telephone companies to an.
| pear and show cause among other
] things.
/ I. Why existing rates for tele
phone rentals should not be subject
to the schedule named in the said re
| porf of the special counsel.
Why existing toll rates shout
not be subject TO a 20 per cent reduc
ton except tolls not exceeding lC
/ cents
1T vas also voted that a general
4 order be forthUith issued prohibiting
increase Of telephone rates br de-
! crcasing free zone territory. the pur