Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12
STATE BOARD Of
APPEALS CONSIDERS
PHONE APPRA|2A[S
Governor Fletcher Appears in
Person and Outlines Posi-
tiOn-AdjOurnment I'M
til March II.

VII NhstAN III
Montpelier. March 5.--The State board
| of appeals met at the State House at
| ten o'clock this morning and took up the
matter of appeal in behalf of the State
IN the appraisals of the telephone com
panies filed by the tax comm ssioner.
Charles A. Plumley, of Mortified. The
BOARD comprises Leut.-Gov. Frank Il.
Howe. Secretary of State Guy w. Bailey
and Auditor of Accounts Horace f.
Graham. The State was represented by
state Treasurer Edward II. Deavltt.
Governor Fletcher and Attorney-General
Rufus f. Brown. Matt B. Jones of Bos-
ton represented the New England Tele-
phone company and Vermont subsid-
iaries, f. c. Williams of Bradford GER
tain telephone companies in Orange coun-
ty, E. NJ. Harvey of Montpelier, indie
pendent telephone companies in Wash
ington aud Orange counties, and others
had their appearances entered by letter.
Governor Fletcher appeared in person
at the hearing and made statement as
to the attitude of the State, which
brought on colloquy with Mr.. Jones,
counsel for the New England company.
Immediately on the converting of the
hearing Governor Fletcher addressing
he board said:
FOLLOWING the course that the state
took in the matter of taxation with the
railroads. the law being changed, | ask
ed the State treasurer some weeks ago
on behalf of the State, to appeal, in
order that anyone who so desired might
have the Judgment of this board rather
than that of one indivdual-the tax COM
nissioner-in putting this new law into
force. And I want to say, on behalf of
The State, that the major portion Of
:hese companes-those other than the
Sew England company and its subsid-
aries-the State feels no present direct
interest in. Is that correct Mr.. Treas
urer?" Cunning towards Mr. Deavitt)
"Why, in y sense, yes" replied Mr.
Deavitt.
REPORT MARCH 10.
YES, in sense" resumed the Gov
,rnor. -" at IS to say, in the main it
s satisfied and has no desire so far as
know to interfere in any way with
he results of the tax commissioner SO
'ar as it applies TO these particular com
1anies. Relative to the others, | have
his to say: The public service commits
sion, as you know. examining into the
affairs of those other companies, and do
you know, Governor Howe whether or
no-have you had any communication
with them-do you know whether they
expect to reach any conclusion within the
line of your holding?"
81 have talked with Mr.. Bacon, the
hartman of the commission, over the
telephone" replied Mr.. Howe, "and he
assures me that their report will be
'eady not later than March 15'
Governor Fletcher resumed: Then the
STAT would ask, so far as they are con-
erned, that your hearing be adjourned
>ver until that time with this object,
hat if they should find, perchance that
he valuations liked by the tax COM
missioner are excessive, then the State
viii appear here and ask for them to
pc reduced: if they find the contrary,
hen the States position would be the
contrary. | want to say, too. relative
o the tax commissioner, that he was
dvised by the State some months ago
hat the State would appeal irrespective
II any conclusions he might reach in
he matter for the very reason that all
Il these interested parties might have n
caring before you a board, and II
ou adjourned until the 18th and by
hat time there Is conclusion from that
oard, I will say to you, Governor Howe
hat | will appear here at that time
representing the State, so far as those
articular companies are concerned"
Turning to Mr.. Jones, counsel for the
Few England company, the chairman
laid "Mr. Jones, you said after the list
'as called you might desire to make G
tatement in regard to the companies fol
hich you appear"
WANTS ACTION
simply this" said Mr. Jones' that
ave come prepared to take up the hear
hgs for the companies which | repre-
ent, as was stated in the order of no
ce. and ] should be very glac If it wer
ossible to get the matter disposed of.
81 have learned with some lrpris
hat the position of the companies whicl
represent in this matter seems to b.
fferent, so far as the appellants ar
bncerned, from the position of the othe
bmpanies. If my memory serves a.
these companies We're parties to tn
roceedngs before the public servic
understand how the proceedings o
hdings of that board would have
aterial bearing in proceedings befor
is board, but If it does | assume tina
e findings of that body would hav
e sane bearing as to all companie
resented here. AS the matter nov
ands the suggestion is made that thi
airing go over until some future date
I'd that so far as the companies whic
represent are concerned, we are
me here not knowing what the att
de of the appellants is to be until tn
ne that the hearing is held. ] do nc
sh to embarrasg anybody in this mat
r. but it occurred to me that we ar
titled to know what the position c
@ appellants Is in order that we Nigh
epare for a hearing. The order of nc
be which we have received states the
sition distinctly, and If we may res
ION form of appeal which has bee
ken, why, of course, know now
epare for a hearing and can preser
yself properly. | do not see upon whf
ound there should be any change {
sjtion in the matter so far as the al
llants are concerned: nor as | sad
understand what material bearing
cision from the public service con
ssion in the rate case can have upo