Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-31
Complain. Against cemp.oy.

Complaint Against comPsny.
Upon written complaint against any
public utility company, by 10 persons.
firms, or corporations. alleging that
any Of the rates are unreasonable, or
that the service is inadequate in any
way. the commission may institute
preliminary investigation. If the pub
lie utility does not remedy the defect
within 10 days. then he commission
has the power to order a formal pub
lie hearing, after proper notice to all
parties concerned. After such formal
hearing the rates and service may
be regulated by order of the commits
sion.
The commission has the power to
make such investigation on its own mo-
ton in cases where defective service on
the part of public utility has been
brought to the attention of the board.
third method of investigation Is pro-
vided for in another section. which au-
thorizes a public utility company to pc
tition the board for such a hearing.
These three methods provide for all pos
sible contingencies, for the correction of
unjust rates, and for the Improvement
of inadequate service.
The commission has the power 10 con1-
pei the attendance of witnesses and the
production of books and accounts. and a
full and complete record shall be kept
of all proceedings before the commits
sion, but none of these records OF IN
designations can be used as evidence in
court in any action excepting that an
order of the commission is to be de-
clared to be evidence in any proceed
| ings This provision insures that the
commission will be able to secure more
thorough investigations and the pro-
duction of some evidence which might
| be concealed if there were any danger
that such evidence would later on be
used in court, in actions against the
public utility.
Cases Of Emergency.
| Questions of law may be raised by
alleging exceptions to the ruling of the
commission on an agreed statement OF
facts, or on facts found by the commits
sion, and such exceptions shall be al
lowed by the chairman of the commits
sion and certified by the clerk thereof,
to the chief justice of the supreme judi
cill court. Such questions of law shall
be decided by the law court as soon as
may be- or on agreement of parties, may
| be certified to the next term of the law
court to be disposed of in the regular
course of business. The prevailing par
ty in this proceeding RECEIVERS cost.
No person shall be excused from tes-
tifying on the ground that his testimony
would tend to incriminate him or sub
| ject him to penalties. and no person
having so testified. shall be prosecuted
or subjected to penalty excepting that
he may be punished for perjury
Alleging Exceptions.
In cases of emergency. the commits
sion has full power temporarily to alter.
amend or suspend, existing rates.
schedules or orders, thus allowing the
commission to use judgment in cases
of serious accident. or disaster. to the
plant of the public utility.
Every public utility, corporation, or
person falling to observe the orders and
regulations of the commission, shall be
liable to punishment for contempt; any
officer agent or employee of public
utility who shall wilfully fail or refuse
to return blanks. and information re-
uuired, or who refuses to exhibit books
and accounts, or to keep uniform sys-
tenn of accounting, required shall be
punished by a fine of not exceeding
$1,000 for each offense. And if any pub
lie utility wilfully violates any provision
of this act, it shall forfeit into the State
treasury not more than $1,000 for each Of
tense, and every day during which this
ofTense continues, shall constitute sep
arate and distinct offense under the
statute. The penalty for issue Of stocks.
bonds, notes or other evidences of in
debtedness, contrary to this act, is i'm
prisonment in the State prison for not
less than one year or more than 10
years, and any officer or agent, who,
knowingly or wilfully makes any false
statement in this particular, shall be
liable to a fine of $500 and Imprisonment
in the State prison for not less than one
year.
No public utility shall apply to the
Legislature for any rights, privileges or
immunties which the commission has
power to grant it, until it first shall
have exhausted it's rights in that behalf
before the commission, and in making
such application to the Legislature, it
must make written statement that Its
application has been denied by the COM
mission