The Republican journal., 1917-04-05

ence to any new rate. joint rate. fare
rental, toll, classification, charge, rule,
ment proposed as would be proper in a
proceeding initiated upon complaint or
upon motion of the commission in any
rate investigation.
Pending such investigation and order
the commission may at any time within
said period preceding the effective date Of
any such schedule, by filing with such
schedule and delivering to the public utili-
ty affected thereby a statement of its rea-
sons for said suspension, suspend the
operation of such schedule or any part
thereof, but not for a longer period than
three months from the date of said order
or suspension; provided however, that II
said investigation cannot be concluded
within said period of three months said
commission may in its discretion extend
the time of suspension for a further
period of three months; and provided
further that nothing in this section con-
with the commission and proposing any
change or changes in any new rate Joint
rate, fare, rental, toll, classification,
charge, rule, regulation or form of con,
tract or agreement affecting the trans
portation of freight.
Section 2. Whenever the public utili-
ties commission receives notice of any
change or changes proposed to be made
IN nan any schedule of new rates, Joint rates,
charges, rules, regulations or forms CT
contract or agreement affecting the
transportation of freight, ard filed with
said commission under the provisions of
law, said commission shall have power
at any time within thirty days after the
eHective date of such change or changes
either upon complaint or upon its own
motion, and after reasonable notice, to
hold a public hearing and make investi-
cation as to the propriety Of such pro-
posed change or changes.
AT any such hearing involving any
change or changes as above specified the
burden of proof 10 show that such change
Is reasonable shall be upon the common
carrier. After such hearing and investi-
gatlon the commission may make such
order, within period OF not less than
SIX months after the effective date of the
sGneoule setting forth such change or
changes with reference to any propose
new rate. joint rate, fare, rental toll
classhcatIon, charge, rule, regulation or
form OF contract or agreement proposed
as would be proper under existing law
IN a proceeding initiated upon complaint
or upon motion of the commission in any
rate investigation; and in cases involving
an Increase in an existing rate, joint rate
TOLL fare. rental or charge affecting the
transportation of freight, if the commits
sion shall find that such increase is un.
reasonable it may, by proper order, de-
termlne and fix the maximum rate Joint
rate, toll, fare, rental or charge which
may thereafter be collected for the serv-
toll. fare, rental or charge affecting the
transportation of freight in excess there
of shall be filed within period of one
year after the making of such order; and
require the common carrier which has
filed any such increased rate, joint rate,
toll fare, rental or charge affecting the
transportation of freight to refund, in
such manner and under such conditions
as may be prescribed by the commission.
to all persons from whom charges have
been collected by virtue of the schedules
under investigation, any and all sums
collected in excess of the rate Joint rate
toll, fare, rental or charge affecting the
transportation of freight so determined
and fixed by the commission as being the
maximum rate, joint rate toll fare, rem
tai or charge to be collected. and may re-
quire due report of the refund so made
(Approved March 16 1917
CHAPTER As.
An Act to amend Section twenty-seyen of
Chapter fifty-two of the Revised Stat
utes, relating to investment of deposits
by savings institutions.
Amend section tWenty-seven, chapter
fifty-two of the Revised Statutes, sub
section first. paragraph ia" by adding
after the word Columbia In the last
line of said paragraph, the following:
and in the bonds issued by any farm
loan bank organized under authority Of
the United States government, so that
said paragraph as amended shall read as
follows:
First, a. In the public funds of the
United States and District of Columbia
and in the bonds issued by any farm loan
bank organized under authority of the
United States government, '-(Approved
March 16, 1919
CHAPTER 4s.
An Act to amend Section thirty-nine of
Chapter thirty of the Revised Statutes,
relating to the inspection of safe
guards and repairs, by town officers or
fire engineers
That the last sentence in section thirty
nine of chapter thirty of the Revised
Statutes reading IN towns. cities and
villages having an organized fire depart
ment the duties aforesaid shall he dis
charged by the chief of the fire depart
ment' be stricken out and the following
sentence inserted in place thereof In
towns, cities and villages with a popula-
ton of over five thousand, having an or
ganized fire department.. the duties afore-
said shall be discharged by the board of
engineers and in towns, cities and viii
lagos with a population of less than fivs
thousand, having am organized fire de-
partment, the duties aforesaid shall be
discharged by the chief of the fire depart
ment,' so that said section as amendei
shall read as follows:
Section 80. In towns or parts of towns
having no ORGANIZED fire department, the
municipal officers snail annually make,
or direct the fire inspector to make,
careful inspection of the precautions and
safeguards provided In compliance with
the foregoing requirements, and pass
upon their sufficiency as to arrangement
and number and upon their state of re-
pair; and direct such alterations, addi-
lions and repairs a. they adiudge neces-
sary. In towns, cities and villages with
a population of over five thousand, hav-
ing an organized fire department, the
duties aforesaid shall he discharged by
the board of engineers and In towns, cit
les and villages with a population of less
than five thousand having an organized
shall be discharged by the chief of the
1919
CHAPTER AZ.
An Act additional to Chapter seven of
the Revised Statutes, relating to the
purity of elections.
Wardens of cities and selectmen of
towns, shall, within twentyfour hours
after the closing of the polls in their re-
spective polling districts at any election,
return the check lists now provided by
law for towns. wards, voting precincts
and voting districts, to the clerk of their
respective cities and towns. Any person
violating the provisions of this act shall
be punished by fine of not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than five hun
bred dollars or by Imprisonment for
thirty days.-(Approved March 16, 1917)
CHAPTER 40.
An Act to provide for physical connection