Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-03

a blanket request to see everything call
ing it a drag net request" and saying
that there were some matters which were
entirely irrelevant. President White of
the company said that while it was or
ganized in 1854, only the records since
1886 were in existence
Chairman Cleaves asked Lawyer Carter
what books, papers and records he
thought ought to be excluded, but this
Mr.. White was unable to say onhand.
He thought that Mr.. Adams might ask
Mr.. Stevens what records he wished to
see.
that at court hearing when the matter
| of valuation and the question of fixing
valuation was brought up all of the
books and papers would be brought into
court.
Lawyer Carter raised the point that
under Section of the Public Utilities law
| persons making an inspection of records
| and memoranda of any public utility
could not divulge the information to any
one except to the commission or under
the direction Of the commission without
being subject to fine or imprisonment.
Attorney General Pattangal1 thought that
| this provision referred to Investigations
under the motion of the commission.
Commissioner Shelton made the in
curry if an order included all books.
accounts, invoices and vouchers and
records showing locations and dimen-
sions and other details in regard TO
mains, pipes. distribution and the sys-
tenn generally and the quantity fur
nished. would apply to everything that
the company thought material. Law
yer Carter replied that he thought that
would cover everything but he wanted
his rights Of exception, if he had any,
as to the authority of the commission
under the act. Chairman Cleaves did
not think that such rights could be
reserved.
Before the hearing was finally con-
cluded Judge Cleaves made the follow
ing statement to counsel:
The commission has considered the
matters involved in this order quite
a long time before any such petition
was ever presented, in the form OF
commissions decisions and court de-
cislons and articles by so-called experts
in various publications, with REFER
ence to the authority of the commission
to require utility to open its books
for inspection by compliments, and
with reference to the extent and scope
of the authority so given, and we don't
have any question whatever as to our
authority under the law to require the
company to submit it's books up to GER
80 Ia &SanN ~
compliments expert and counsel. al
though the primary purpose is prepa-
ration Of its case and acquisition of
information; and in this case we shall
order the respondent to submit its
books to the inspection of the COM
plainants' expert under certain re-
strictions.
I'VE do not yet determine whether
the records Of the meeting of the stock
holders and directors, or the data
which refers to the history of the cap
italization of the company shall or
shall not be open to the inspection Of
the compliments. We feel that by CIV
ing counsel on both sides, information
as to some of the circumstances in our
order, which will be dated today and
issued probably tomorrow sometime,
we shall give the complainantts' ex.
pert and his named assistants author
ity to examine quite generally the
books of account and all data with
reference to the original cost, distri-
button mains and system Of the COM
pany, and in our order shall determine
to what extent, if at ALL the records
Of meetings Of stockholders and the
history of the capitalization may be
examined. but in all other respects the
general petition will oc granted. And it
should be stated that Mr.. Adams and
his assistants will be charged with the
duty and responsibility Of not disclos-
ing the information which they receive
except to such persons as we designate
are proper recipients of that informa-
ton