The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-05
les for alt Sinds of municipal planting.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

ties for alt Sinds of municipal planting.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
The Public Service Company law, created
by an Act of Assembly, approved July 26,
1918, is one of the utmost Importance to the
people of Pennsylvania, and to those corpora
tions serving the people which defined as
public utilities. This law puts the ultimate
control of public service companies, with
spect to services. facilities and rates. in a COM
mission selected under the authority of the
state. Up to the time of the passage of the
Act, this control was vested in the boards on
directors of these corporations, subject only
to such redress upon the part of the public,
as could be secured bv suits in the courts and
was often exercised without regard to any
interests save those of the corporations
which the directors represented. During the
short period of year and half since the
enactment of the law, II has proven to be of
great benefit to the people. Not only have
they come to the Commission with confidence
to present their complaints concerning exces.
sive rates. grade crossings and similar mat
ters of Importance. but the very fact that
there exists such impartial tribunal, with
authority. promptly and inexpensively to de.
termine disputes, has led to care and self re
straint upon the part of the corporations.
Many cases of far-reaching Importance
have already been disposed of by the Commits.
sion. In one instance. the supply of heat OF
borough was turned off as winter approach.
ed. The hearing before the Commission wal
ended at p. NJ, an opinion written during
the night, and at 10 A. M. the next morning
an order was issued requiring the supply tc
be restored. The whole system of telephone
rates throughout the State is under consider.
alton, and the rates upon the transportation
Of anthracite coal to Philadelphia have been
materially reduced. The right of some of the
Industrial roads TO participate in through
rates was determined although the Interstate
Commerce Commission had decided otherwise
Between January |. 1914, and June 80.
1914, bS grade crossings were abolished and
under grade and overhead crossings were
established.
Since the work of the Commission Is rapid
ly enlarging both as to the number and inn
portance of the matters brought before them
for discrimination. and since the vast num-
ber of tariffs over which they have supervision
are fled with them and require to be provided
for and anayzed. additional space and facili
ties ought to be furnished by the Common
wealth.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Attorney Generals Department haa
rendered valuable services to the Common.
wealth, not only in advising the many de.
partments of the State upon questions of law
concerning the powers, jurisdiction and ad
ministration of the several departments, but
has carried to successful determination much
important litigation in the interests of the
Commonwealth.
Quite a number of Acts Of Assembly, in
volving the administration of the various de.
partments of the State Government, were
from time to time attacked as uneonstitu-
tional. and it became the duty of this Depart
cossfully.
The Department argued with success in the
Supreme Court of the United States the case
raising the constitutonality Of the statute pro.
hibiting foreign-born aliens from owning
shotguns and rifles. involving important ques.
uons as to the police power of the State and
the construction of international treaties; and,
IN the same court, the Department sustained
the validity under the State and Federal Con-
stitutions OF very important provision of the
anthracite mine code, requiring in the inter-
est and protection of the miners the leaving
OF barrier pillars between adjoining mines
also the case involving the constitutionality
of the Pure Food Law of 1909, which is the
principal act under which the Dairy and
Food Department operates The constitution
ality of the Full Crew Law, and of various
provisions of the taxing laws, have also been
upheld in the highest courts of the State, and
the act regulating private bankers. and sew
eral other important departmental laws have
been sustained in the lower courts.
CODIFICATION OF LAWS
The Legislative Reference Bureau, at the
session of 1918. directed by the General
Assembly to make examination of the general
statute laws of the State and to pre- pare a lis.
of obsolete statutes and statutes whereon some
doubt exists whether they have been repealed
by the general repeating clauses in subseoue MT
acts. Accordingly a bill has been prepared.
reciting by title and repeating upwards of five
hundred laws The bureau was also directed
to prepare compilations and codes. by topics,
OF tne existing general laws, and to report to
the General Assembly in 1915 such codes as
have been prepared. The bureau has codified
and compiled the general laws of Pennsylvania
relating to taxation in all its phases, State and
local, relative to business corporations fox
cept railroads, canals. banking, and insurance.
which will be codifed separately, and to Dor.
oughs.
Even if the codes mentioned above should
not become laws, the amount expended on this
work is justified by the results shown,
BANKING
There were 439 banks, trust companies and
savings-fund institutions doing business In
Pennsylvania at the close of the year 1910.
This number has grown to 4S7; the resources
have increased from l.o69, ,4S6, 1856. So to 81.
27S,644961.7S; the deposits have grown from
7,515. .554.3e to s923, 4,436.82: and the
number of depostors from 1,744,O4s 10
2,3l5.321.
Building associations in this State at the
close of 1910 numbered 1850 and now number
1,793. The resources have increased from
s1sl, ,ao2.0ss.2 to $685. 1850, in January.
1914 making the total resources of all incor.
porated financial institutions in the State. for
1914. about Sl,7G0. 900. 900.
1t is to be regretted that the LerisIaturo
has not yet deemed it necessary to enact meas
ures similar to those in use by the National