The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-20
CHANGES URGED IN
PUBLIC SERVICE LAW
Upstate Board in It's Annual
Report Asks for Addi-
tiOnal Powers.
WANTS ALMOST A MILLION
Half That Sum Is for Grade
Crossing, the Balance
for Expenses.

ALBANY, Jan. INSTRUMENTATION
for important amendments TO the public
service commission law are contained
In the annual report OF the upstate
Public Service Commission. which was
transmitted TO the Legislature tonight.
The commission says that II should
have authority. such As il now possessed
by the Interstate Commerce Commission,
TO suspend for not more than four months
the taking effect % advanced rates. pend
Ing investigation as to the reasonableness
Of ths proposed advance. The commits
sion refers particularly to the need OF
such additional powers with respect TO the
proper regulation OF railroad and street
| railway corporations. telegraph and tele-
phone. express, gas and electrical cor
porations.
The commission also advocates the
amendment of Section % OF the public
| service commission law affecting the 30
| called long and short haul clause OF the
| statute. The present clause prohibits
| a greater charge for short shan for long
| distances over the same line In the same
| direction In the transportation of com
| modities under substantially similar cir
! cumstances and conditions" and was
based upon the long and short haul clause
Of the interstate commerce law.
Effect Of Proposed Amendments.
The judicial construction OF the quoted
| phrase made market COM
petition and railroad competition as we'll
l as water competition--constitu dissini-
larity in the circumstances and CON
ditions, just!fying "A greater rate of charge
for shorter distance. Tho proposed
| amendment would relieve the railroads
from the operation Of the long and short
haul clause. the commission granting
such relief for cause shown In par
ticular case.
| Another proposed amendment will en-
able shippers 10 demand from common
carrier a written statement OF the rate
or charge applicable to described ship
ment between stated places under th'
schedules or tariffs which the carrier haf
established or to which X is party
In case the carrier shall refuse to give
a written statement within reasonable
time. or In case II shall mlsstate II
writing the applicable rate. and the per
son or company suffers damage In conse
| uuence such carrier will be liable to
penalty OF $3.50.
The commission also asks for legisla
ton which will compel telegraph an'
telephone corporations to apply 10 II TO
permission to purchase the property an'
plant of another corporation, AS Ia nov
! the case with gas and electrical com
panies
e Request is made to tho Legislature 10
. an Immediate appropriation OF $4,000
for the States share In the eli1ninatio
OF grade crossings. In the last y"
made.
5 Tho report shows that grade "rossin
o accidents continue to increase. ana tn
= commission insists that II should nav
the power In special and aggravated case
Q to compel railroad companies to elininat
1.
stallatiOn of improved signal systems an
2 the betterment of roadbeds, &C, in thi
State Is commended In the report.
During the year ended June 80. 1911:
$3.50 grade crossing accidents occuIre
outside Of Greater New York. In thes
accidents ia people were killed and 81
o we're injured. This would seem to es
tablish the necessity for an appropria
tion TO pay the states proportion OF tn
v work of elimination of dangerous cross
y ings. the report says.
:, Telephone. Toll Reform.
n The matter of equitable toll rates {
d the New York Telephone Company b,
% tween the Borough of Manhattan and tn
j. several boroughs in Kings and Queer
counties was gone into very thorough.
r says the report, and an order was er
: tered to include the localities represente
n within the s cent zone from lower Mar
haitian and otherwise to readjust II
O local areas in brooklyn. The cOmmissio
~ Instituted a further inquiry into all II
y marlborough toll rates within Create
20 New York. as a result Of which the tell
phone company profYered general r.
l. vision OF its interborOugh toll schedule.
n There are now under way investigation
II of the charges for telephone service
o New York city. including private brant
10 exchange rates and rates for extenstt
It stations connected Herewith, and Il
nay station rate of 10 cents where Il
70 corresponding subscrlbers rate IL 8 cent
For the expenses Of the commission 4