Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-23
STATE HOUSE
Several Informal Rulings by the
Public Utilities Commission
for Benefit of Public
Announced
NOMINATIONS BY GOV.
Captain Daniel W. Wentworth
of Sanford, Attached to
Artillery Headquarters,
Placed on Retired List
NOMINATIONS BY GOV.

L..
ray announced informal rulings for the
in formation Of the public and as a guide
to the nublic utilities and their custo-
mer. 1t is the plan Of the commission
20 announce these rulings from time to
time The rulings announced Monday
are as follows:
TELEPHONE CO3lPANIES-Discrim
nation between stockholding and non
stock holding subscribers. A telephone
CORPORATION furnishes similar service 10
subscribers who are stockholders in the
corporation and TO those WHO are not
stockholders, charging the former rates
materially lower than those charged the
hitter for the same service. This prac-
ucc is contrary to the Utilities Act
Such !, CORPORATION is authorized to es-
.atlish such rates as shall be reason
4hie and .ust taking into due consider
.ti-n the fair value of ell its property
with a lair return thereon, its nslts
.i:ld plant as a going concern. business
risk and depreciation tSeciion 10 It
may tnen distribute lis net earnings
after setting aside a proper amount for
depreciation among its stockholders II
the form, OF divideEds. 1t cannot arbl-
tra-ily render 10 its stockholders. as
such service free 0" at less rate tA2h
that charged the general pubic Tor t.-=
same service.
ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANIES
Discrimination III charges for connec-
tons Where the connection BY an elec-
:ric lighting company q its system Tl;h
the coJnDleted system OF wiring IN
prospective consumers house is j con-
.iition precedent TO the securing OF the
coranany's service ~ the customer, It Is
an unlawful discrimination for tne COM
rary ID exact charge for making sucn
connection OF 3 Customer whose house
iaas beer wired by third party and TO
make the connection free OF charge i
the wiring has been Gone by the COM
pany's mechanical department IL can
make 10 difference that the expense OF
connection IS presumed TO have been
covered in the charge for wiring. Eac1
is separate consideration and should
b., provided Tor in such manner that tbs
requirements imposed Upon the pCo-ie
Cor securing the service O. the public
utility ere Uniform. and readily under
standable.
school, CHILDREN TICKETS
Not discriminatory under certain con-
ditions-Nct disable fo- other purposes
Common carriers Of passengers ma! gI.e
special reduced rates for schoo. cNlil~Teh
20 ne used only III going 10 Ar! fro:!
school. Applicable to ali S-AcC! en- Greil
alike within tEf!r respective coTnmunI-
ties, provided sue. rates are rot slt7i-
Gently Low 20 become. a burden upon
the carrier to he shifted TO other mem
ht.rs OF the public. AEy person using
such tickets fer any other purpose t5a2
that Tor which they are issGed, Or
knowingly accepting hem when offered
in payment fer TRANSPORTATION otaer
than that for which issued. becomes La
, Die 20 the penalties OF tins Act.
FAT.iI. ACCIDENTSDuties OF Cor
one-s. The only effect CT tie provision
OF the Act repeating Seton s.. Chap1eT
81. Revised s-atuteCs. is TO leave the Glt-
I les ut COUNTY attorneys and corone-s as
though that se>I!on mad never been en-
acted In other words. go FAR as the
coroners powers are concerned. it makes
no difference whether the death occurs
, in connection with operation of 4 public
utility or remote from IL II the coroner
* satisfied upon preliminary inTesi!GL-
| ton tlat the death vas accidental. he
should hold no inquest, II he is not sat-
isied that there is no evidence OF felony
or il he feels that the circumstances are
such as to point 10 o. raise reasonable
susnicion OF felony, he should hold an
! inquest. The act does not interfere with
the coro1cr's jurisdiction over the body
OF any person whose death IS caused by
| violence. wherever II occurs.
MUNICIPAL I.IGHTIEG-Rig ht Of
I
franchise. Where a corporation is fur
nisnirs electricity in 4 town for mimi
ciyal and domestic purposes. the town
may light its own streets and public
buildings without Obtaining permission
/ From tie Commission under Section >. Of
thn All.
Cl-AiMS-Power to order PREPARATION.
The Utilities ACT does not authorize the
Commission TO award damages or order
PREPARATION. These remedies can lie
sought in the court alone.
DISCOUNTS ON PAYMENTS MADE
WITHIN FINED TIME.-A company
furnishing gas or electricity may allow
a reasonable discount. available TO all
its customers. or bills paid within liked
time. 1t cannot extend such time, al
though the customers failure TO pay
was due to accident or error on his part
nor because the last day falls on Suniay
or a legal holiday. unless its rules SO
provide
SPECIAL RATES TO EMPLOYEES
\ utility other than q common carrier
has no authority 10 furnish it's service
to its employees FREE. Such utility
other than common carrier may fur
nish its service TO employees at reduced
rate in accordance with Section - OF
the Public Utilities Act