The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-01-13

coed with cases upon its own motion
II has technical force of rate experts,
civil. hydrulic and electrical cagi-
neers and a statistical department for
The thoro investigation of all classes o:
complaints and for the taking OF in
ventories to determine the valuation
Of properties and whether or not they
are being operated properly
II has jurisdiction over the construc-
tion OF buildings. including railroad dc
pots. shops. etc. and has authority to
Investigate and fix the blame for
wrecks upon common carriers.
Its powers are of wide scope. and
there Is but one appeal from its find
ings-to the state supreme court. upon
questions Of law. Findings of facts
by the commission are final and are
not subject to review.
Each public service corporation witt,
in the state is required to file with
this commission copicc CT all It's
schedules of rates and classifications
Of service. These records are oppen
to inspection by the public
A total of Al formal, and hundreds
OF informal complaints were filed with
the Commission against public service
corporations during the year just
closed. and with a few exceptions the
docket Is clear for the new year.
Among these complaints are several
important ones initiated by the Com
mission itself. One of the first was
in the nature of sweeping investiga-
ton into the rcasonablencss of coal
freigh. rates, and the order in this
case resulted in material reduction,
each rate ordered into effect being
based, however, upon the income nee
c,sary to give the common carriers of
the state fair return upon their in
vestments. The railroads appealed to
the supreme court, on questions of
law, but in spite of this appeal the
rates ordered by the commission are
in effect and are saving money for the
people of the state pending final ad-
judication by the supreme court
Perhaps the most far-reaching de-
cision by the Commission was that
in the so-called Passenger Rate Case"
reducing fares generally and inaugu-
rating the family mileage book sys-
tcm." an innovation which has proved
popular with the people and upon
which the railroads now look with fa-
vor, allho at first they predicted dire
full results, including bankruptcy and
interminable confusion. 1t has been
estimated that by this one decision at
saved to the travelling public of Colo
rado
Among the formal cases pending Is
an investigation into the reasonable
ness of rates and adequacy of service
OF the Mountain States Telephone and
Telegraph Company, within the State
of Colorado, This preliminary hear
ing is set for January 3, 1916. Prep
aration of the case has been stup-
endous task, and must continue coin
cidcnt with the hearings. AS an ILL
u. ration CT .le work involved, the
Telephone Company has had 400 line
men, experts, accountants, etc, at
work, under the supervision Of this
Commission making a complete in :
vcntory of the companys property
This inventory has been checked by
employees of the Commission. When
completed, the Commission will know
to q pound the amount OF wire in use
tn exact number of poles in use an
in reserve. the number Of switch
boards. and all the other minute units
Of the system, as well as the amount
and value of the larger items.
As far as possible, formalities are
dispensed with in hearings and actions
brought before the Commission and
any citizen who so desires may appear
as complainant and have his legal
rights safc-guarded by the members of
this body.
a campaign for fair freight rates
for Colorado is now being undertaken
in which this Commission is partici-
pating Fair freight ratcs mean pro-
spcrity for Colorado and an increased
business for the railroads, which will
mean greater prosperity Tor them, and
this Commission intends to do all in
its power to make the campaign a sue
cesSful one.
SNn lAI-AD