Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1915-09-24

Before the Public Service Commits
sion of Nevada.
Public Service Commission of Ne
vada, complainant, versus Tonopah
Sewer and Drainage Company, cor
poration, respondent.
Opinion and order, case U-5S.
Bartine chief commissioner
This case has been pending for a
considerable period of time, which is
due partly to the fact that the Com
mission has found the case involved
and difficult to deal with satisfactor-
lily, and partly to the pressure of other
business. Some three years ago a
complaint was filed with the Commits
sion by number of citizens of the
Town of Tonopah, under the name of
the Business Mems Association.
The complaint charged generally that
the rates for sewer service were eX-
cessive and discriminatory, and that
the rules, regulations and practices OF
the company were unjust and unrea-
sonable. The commission gave that
complaint a great deal of considera-
| ton at the time, but could not see its
way clear either to make an order re
ducing the rates or changing mater
tally the rules, regulations and prac-
tees of the sewer company. The rec
ommendation of the Commission was
that a sanitary zone be established
in Tonopah by the Board of County
Commissioners, acting as a Town
Board, and that all parties having
buildings within said district, needing
sewer connections, be required TO
make connection with the respondent
company's sewer system Nothing has
come of this recommendation, al
! though it was believed, and still is,
that it would be, or at least lay a
/ foundation, for the best solution of
the general problem.
Later, series of complaints was
filed by one S. r. Moore, president OF
/ S. r. Moore & Company corpora
| tion engaged in the real estate bus
mess in the said Town of Tonopah,
These complaints were varied in char
acter, and went into specific instances
of what the complainant undoubtedly
| believed were unjust and unreason-
able rules, regulations, practices and
charges by the respondent company
| 1t seemed to the Commission thai the
better way to deal with the questions
/ involved was to make the case its
own, and institute an investigation of
the whole situation under the provis-
ions of Section 10, of the Public Ser
vice Commission Law of this State.
A hearing was held at the Town of
lTonopah on January Is and 16 of the
year 1914, which hearing was presided
| l. a. aAa 81 nj 10
sion The case against the company
was conducted by Mr. S. r., Moore.
who had filed the various complaints
referred to above. The respondent
company was not represented by at
torney, but the president Of the com
lpany, Mr.. ]. G. Crumley, appeared IN
person and made such showing on be
half of the company as he desired to
At the hearing it seemed to the
Commissioner presiding That a great
deal of personal feeling was existent
and cropped out at almost every stage
of the proceeding He endeayored
rather unavailingly, to hold the repre-
sentative of the complainant or com
plainants down to something approx
mating the rules which obtain in judi
Cldl procedure. me result was tlldl Z
great many statements Of alleged facts
found their way into the record which
would never be regarded as testimony
in any judicial tribunal If this Com
! mission were to make an order baset
upon such evidence. and had nothinl
else to stand upon, when the ordel
was contested in court there could b.
I but one result, which would be tina
2 the court would hold the order invalid
, assuming always that the order wa
y in line with compliments contentious
r However out of the mass of matte
J. introduced as evidence, it is possibl
e to gather what seems to be the prin
q cipal grievances Of those who were dis
!, satisfied with the actions of the sewe
Il company. These will be separated
stated, and so far as possible treate
separately in this opinion.
|. 1t is complained that the sewe
company pursues the custom of con
% polling the new tenant of house hay
W ing a sewer connection, to pay the III
n paid bill of the previous occupant.
u, ii. It is complained that the con
=" pany requires the new tenant to bea