Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12

THAT II the public service commission
after having investigated for period or |
sol three or four months the question |
of values of these articular properties
should reach the conclusion that an IN
justice has been done these gentlemen !
then their taxes are too hish as hXed
by the tax commissioner. The State
only wants what Is fair and right. II on
the contrary they should reach the con-
clusion that they are not high enough
the State only wants that which is right.
The question involved here is not what
the public service commission are pass
Ing upon In their attempt to regulate
rates-that mas nothing whatever to dow with
this matter. The state, however, does not
wish to be put in an unfair position, one
branch of its government doing one thing
and another doing another thing. Nor
does it wish the telephone company put
in an unfair position"
He believed the board should await the
conclusions OF the commission and the
telephone companies then and there have
opportunity to present their cases. There
was no desire he said, on the part
the State to reach a contrary end.
Continuing he said II respectfully sub
NIT to this board that the public serv-
Ice commission, after three or four
months investigation of the values of
these properties, looking into the faces
of the witnesses that testified here, going
into it only as board can, constituted
as they are. should and could reach a
fair valuation of this property and that
the State through you is entitled to get
w
and should do so before reaching an in
telligent conclusion in this matter"
QUESTION OF BOARDS.
Mr.. Jones said he had no objection to
the board considering all the testimony
presented to the commission which he
assumed was available His point was
that a decision of that board can have no
effect upon decision of this board, which
is an Independent tribunal prescribed by
the laws of this state, to determine the
question now at issue. Resuming he said:
IF | have properly construed His Excel
lency's statement, 1t means that the State
proposes to rest its decision of the mat
teri do not mean this honorable board s
decision of the matter-but propose to
rest its attitude on this matter upon
am here to present my case to this tri-
bunal, which Is the formally constituted
tribunal in this State. I am further sur
prsed that the attitude of the State to-
wards other companies than my own can
be so clearly and definitely established as
has been shown here this morning. in adj
vance of a decision by the public service
commission, when these companies were
ti.- 70 hot
the companies which I represent and can
not in advance of that decision in refer
ence to the companies which l represent.
After Mr.. Deavitt explained the order
or rorn. or notice lssueo Mr. Jones re-
marked that the attitude Of the companies
he represents is, he trusts, equally as fair
toward the State of Vermont as that
which has been rendered them by repre-
sentatives of the State, and is equally as
fair as the attitude shown by other gen.
tlemen here present.
! Eve have never dodged taxes" declared
he. 1--WE do not propose lodging taxes.
We are willing that our property should
be assessed for taxation at a fair valua-
ton, and as stated, we are here prepared
to go on with this proceeding"
FOR FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE.
Governor Fletcher reiterated that his
only purpose was to secure fairness and
justice and thought delay ought to be
made and that the report of the COM
mission was entitled to serious considera-
ton, that is what the State asks, said
the Governor, and it is not trying a law
suit here, as has been indirectly init
mated.
tTr nil In nt MT n ~
pear in any attempt to go beyond the
best judgment If this board in what it
deems to be the proper procedure in these
/ cases. l am, of course sensible of the
very sense of justice which lies at the
| bottom of this appeal. What l have been
trying to learn this morning, and have
not learned is why the appellants are
so certain of what is their position as to
all the companies except my clients and
why decision by the board of public
service commission of this State lacks
significance in the case of all the com
panies except those which l represent,
and such vital significance in the case
Of the companies which ] represent If,
however. this board feels that it desires
to postpone these hearings, 1 do not care
to object further but shall very cheer
lully dquleSCe IN Whatever you gentle
men deem to be the proper procedure"
The members of the board then con-
ferred and announced through the chair
that the understanding was that on aC-
count of county court work Of certain
members of the board they would be UNI
able to resume the hearings next week
and would adjourn until ten o'clock Tues
day morning, March H.
Immediately on this announcement the
Governor left the Senate chamber for tn,
executive chamber, where members o.
the penal board were awaiting him.
CUT IN APPRAISAL.
Agreement was made that the Stat,
would not press increases of valuation
of the Ovitt lines in Franklin, Lamoill,
anu Chittenden counties, the appra isal o
tn j. W, Farnsworth line in Colchester
was cut from $500 to 5000 after Nh
Furnsworth said he would like to find
customer at that figure, but in the mat
ter of b. o. Martin of Mitonboro, VIII,
wanted his appraisal cut from 500 t,
$500, Mr.. Deavitt called a halt, becaus
he feared that if they dipped into cut
too deeply they would destroy the basil
nrip oinIa Of