Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-04-05
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
First Annual Report of the Maine
Commission.

First Annual Report OF the Maine
Commission.
The first annual report OF the Public
Utilities commission will soon be ready
for distribution. The report embraces
the year ending October 81, 1915, which
marks one full year OF the operation OF
the public utilities act, although the
commission was not organized for work
until December /, 1914.
1t il the intention Of the commission TO
issue its annual report in two volumes.
Volume deals with the public utilities
of the State; volume 2 will deal with the
water storage department.
The report deals ct length with rates,
schedules, special rates and contracts for
fixed term. Referring to the prevalence OF
special rates and the efforts that have
been made to abolish them, the report
says: $50 universal had this practice be-
come that the manager Of one large utility.
on assuming charge q short time ago,
found more than twelve hundred Gus
TONERS enjoying special rates." The
abolition Of these practices means equal
ity, and equality is the theory, the
science and the common te1se Of every
schedule Of rates"
. During the year accidents resulting in
the loss of eighty-two lives we're reported
to the commission, and LIST nom fatal &C
cidents. All fatal accidents were investi-
gated. They were divided among the
different classes OF utilities: Railroads,
IS; street railroads, IA; electrical COM
panies, 6; telephone companies, 3; vessels,
/.
The report discusses grade crossing
conditions at considerable length. In this
connection the report calls attention to the
frequency OF automobile accidents in the
highways, not only at grade crossings,
but at other points, due to narrow roads
with frequent turns and many cross roads,
or entering roads, here the view is OBJ
structed, or the presence OF the crossing
not known until the automobilist is close
upon it.
1t recommends protective legislation
along lines worked out in other New
England states, and specifically suggests
that warning signs be placed on our high
ways, W here q dangerous turn Is shortly
to be met with, or where q crossroad, or
entering road, is q short distance away
and somew hat obscured, and particularly
where q railroad crosses high way at grade.
The report refers to the controversy
which arose in relation to railroad fares
for those attending the last annual con-
vention of the Maine teachers associa-
tion in Bangor. 1t states that its MEM
bers felt that they were entitled at least
to the rates given to those attending the
Maine music festivals.
The commission cannot establish re-
duced, or less than regular rates, for
charitable or benevolent purposes. The
charities OF each utility, like those of an
individual's, are matters for it to initiate.
| But the association can refuse to approve
such reductions, and will do 30 where an
| injustice or an inequality 10 persisted in.
The railroad management was advised
| those who attended the teachers' conven-
| tion should rot receive rates as low, ut
least, as those who attended the musical
festival; and that, IL the railroads felt
they could make . concession to the
musical festival, they ought in fairness to
make the same concession to the teachers
convention. As result ofthe conference,
the railroads will Immediately attempt q
Standardization or classification of all
special events, and will hereafter charge
to all falling within the Same class the
same rate for special transportation"
The preliminary statement is followed
by q detailed summary of all formal
matters before the commission during the
year, the points involved, and their dis
position. Without undertaking to give
decisions at length, wherever Q precedent
was esta blished or . question OF general
interest settled, it 10 explained.