La Junta tribune., 1916-01-08
OUR STATE CAPITOL.
Public Ctilittes Commissioa Making
Good-Fosty.ssvsn Complaints
Disposed of Darins 1915.

nection with the Public Utilities
Commission.
II will be remembered that this
commission took the place Of the old
railroad commission. which was hand
icapped through lack Of authority
and power. and was really nothing
more than . bureau of Information.
Mr.. s. 8. Kendall and Mr.. George T.
Bradley. OF the old commission were
continued ON the new and Mr.. n. H.
Aylesworth. of Fort Collins. was ap-
pointed by Governor Carlson. They
elected Mr.. George r. Oxley. well
known Denver newspaper man their
secretary, aud since then their offic-
es have been among the busiest Of
the state house.
1t has been year Of tests for the
law and for the commission.
Phases OF the law, such a. the
right Of the commission TO set aside
private and public contracts. fran
chises. etc.. between public utilities
and individuals or the public through
the governmental units OF the state.
had to be taken up individually and
interpreted and administered. This
was shown In the recent decision in
the Colorado Springs Light. Heat
and Power Company. wherein the
commission ordered rate reductions
averaging about l5 per cent, set aside
and franchise provisions,
and required the corporation to In
all respects obey the Law requiring
II to give the public adequate service
at reasonable rates. The effective
ness OF this order originally was set
for January 1, 1916. but upon the
Of officials OF the company
that hardship would be worked up
on the company by giving II 10 short
a time TO change It's business meth
DDS. the date Of effectiveness Of the
order was changed TO February I.
1916.
II matters are brought to the At
tention Of the commission. II may
proceed with cases upon It's own mo-
tion. II has . technical force Of
rate experts. civil. hydraulic and
electrical engineers and statistical
department for the Thorough inves-
tigation of all classes Of complaints
and for the taking OF inventories TO
determins the valuation Of proper
ties and whether or not they are ~
ne opsrated properly.
Il has jurisdiction over tho con-
struction Of buildings. Including
railroad depots, shops. etc.. and has
authority 70 Investigate and fix the
blame for wrecks upon common car
risss.
IT. powers are OF wide scope. aud
tAses 10 but one appeal from ~
flndlngs-to the state supreme
court. upon questions Of law. Fihd-
lngs Of facts by the commission are
Nal and are not subject 70 review.
Each public service corporation
vlthin ehs state h required 70 file
11eA this commission copies Of all
(hetr schedules Of rates and classifl-
eattoa Of service. These records are
49, y Inspection b. the public.
\ total Of forty-ssvsn. and hun.
1go1s Of informal. complaints were
~ with the commission against
Dublle eeevics corporations duslng
~ ysas Just closed. aad with . few
onoootioas the docket b clear Tor
~ ~ year.
ADeag thsss complaints are ssv.
oen1 important oass inieiatsd by the
ooanmissiea itself. 0as Of Tie flfst
~ = W. naturs Of . sweeDlng u.
vool1Gaaloa into The seasonableaess
g 'ooal fssisht rates. aad the order
= ~ eass resulted u . material
go1oeliea. each rate ordered iato e.
~ belng bassd. however. upoa ~
onoo0e neeessasy 70 give common
ooGs1oes q ths STATE . fair return
49, thelr invest0eats. The rail-
C1ooo aooealed y ~ suDesae eous(
- (uoseiens q law. but ID sDlts ol
- oDoeal ~ rates oe6eeel n ~
o1mmlDsloa ase u effece ed ass
CDv1ng nsssv ses ~ Dses,s q ~
~ Doa1ing flaal aljudieatioa n
~ ooOeome eosrt.
Z poghooe ~ 0ose far FeocAlas T.
1on ~ ~ eeonisslea was that Il
~ oo-eal1e1 '"PasDsaGes naee vsui'
- 1o1Doooe Deek Gvsesn." - iase'
80 vhisA ~ Deove1 De0ulau
- ~ DeeDle aa1 49, whlsA ~
Dponlo ~ Ieek vith faves. q
nA e flsse ~ Deelleeel dr.
1Di1lss lnelu1ing basksuDtey ~
1nohoo ooafuslon. It has boo1