The Alaska citizen., 1917-04-30
WIRE TAPPING Is PREVENTED
 BY NEW LAW

theft bill, passed by the Alaska house Of representatives last Saturday. eventually passes the senate and be comes law by the fixing of the signature of the governor, the tap ping of wires and the stealing of electricity will become crime pun. ishable by law A copy of the bill as introduced was received on last nights mail by Attorney john X 1 Clark It contains the penalties which will be imposed in case that defendant is convicted on such a ! charge
 1 It is understood that for years wire tapping has been prevalent in l Fairbanks In some localities the ] electric light wires have been con nected up with various houses. In l other places it has been the habit i of users of electricity to pay flat i rate per month for one electric light ! and then to attach several more tO 1 the line without the knowledge of the Northern Commercial Co.,. the con cern which operates the lighting sys- tenn here
 For this reason a request was sent to Juneau by the local legal representative of the company ask ing that such bill be passed The bill. as introduced, is as follows:
 For an Act entitled; An Act pro yding that any person. or persons, who shall unlawfully tap, or make connection with or take currents of electricity from, in any unauthorized manner whatsoever, any electric wire or cable. used by any person, firm, town, city, electric light or power company, for conducting eluC- tric lights, or who shall steal electric currents from any such wires or cables, shall be guilty or a misdemeanor, and for other purposes and providing punishment therefor
 Be it enacted by the legislature of the territory of Alaska:
 Section 1. Any person, or persons, who shall make connection with. or 1 take currents of electricity from in any unauthorized manner whatsoever, any electric wire or cable, used by any person, firm, town, city or cleo i triC light or power company in this l Territory, for conducting any cleo triC currents, or who shall steal electric currents therefrOm, or who 1 shall tamper with any meter. or meters of such person, firm, town, city or electric light or power com pany or use their electricity, or di- minish by any means or contrivance whatsoever the free passage of any current or currents, of eleCtiCity OV- CT any such wires or cables, or through any such meters, or who shall agree or Conspire with, any other person, or persons. to do any of the aforementioned acts, or who shall use more lights than contract ed to be paid for on a flat rate, shall be deemed guilty of misde- meanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine of not less than ten dollars ($1000), nor more than one hundred dollars l (S10000), or by imprisonment in the Federal Jail not more than ninety (9O) days or by both such fine and Imprisonment.
 Section 2 That any person, firm, town, city or electric light or power company operating an electric plant for the sale of electricity shall have the right of entrance to any build ing, whether residence or otherwise. for the purpose of checking the number of lights used in such build ing or residence or for the purpose of reading their meter or meters.
 Section 3. This Act shall take effect and be in force and effect after it's passage and approval by the Governor