Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-02


a's position that the
receipted bill is evidence of the pay
ment. This action has been estab-
lished as a line of procedure where
requests are made by customers of
gas, electric and similar companies,
who have asked for certificates of
excess payments during litigation or
pending action on complaints filed
in the matter before the commits
sion.
The commission has taken the
position that where payments are
made for railroad tickets or for
trolley fares where increases have
been announced and action upon
which is pending that excess certifi-
Gates may be issued because receipts
are not given with such payments.
In Own Tongues-Polish, Italian
and Slavish visitors to the State
Capitol are now confronted with
signs in their own language calling
upon them to enlist, buy Liberty
Bonds and conserve food. For the
first time the State House is filled
with signs. Ordinarily it is only
when a convention or caucus is held
that any signs are placed in the
corridors or rotunda of the build
ing, but now Liberty Loan, Food
Conservation and Enlistment post
ers are to be found in many parts
of the building. The posters in for
eign languages are placed in the
most frequented parts of building.
Can't Employ Women-The ques-
ton of the employment of female
labor about the coal mines of the
state has been brought prominently
before the public by the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company in employ
ing AZ girls and women about their
mines in Carbon county. 1t seems
that these persons were employed
i'll the breakers, machine shops and
at various other occupations under
the plea that difficulty in obtaining
male help made it necessary.
The employment of the girls and
women in the case referred to oc-
casioned a great deal of comment
and the opposition to the innova-
ton became very pronounced. The
United Mine Workers finally voiced
their opposition by declaring that
unless the females were Immediate
ly dispensed with, all the collieries
in the anthracite region would
strike.
Seward E. Button, Chief of the
Department of Mines, as soon as
advised of the employment of the
girls and women, advised the Com
pany that the practice must be STOP
ped Immediately and all of the in
spectors in the anthracite region
were notified to keep a close watch
upon the operation of all mines to
see that there is no other violation
OF the law in this respect
To Fight a PeSt-W. H. Goodwin,
who has been in charge of studies
on farms in the Cumberland valley
for the federal and state govern
ments, has been tranferred to New
Jersey where he will direct the gov
ernmenta1 crusade and horticultural
stock. These pests have been re-
ported from a number of states and
are as destructive as the brown tail
ed moth and other nuisances which
| Pennsylvania has managed to keep
from its borders. One of the men
| in charge of tests for the grain
require some changes in that line
of study.
Making Good Time-Forestry
Commissioner Conklin expects that
| by the end of this month the whole
100000 of Seeding trees which the
state plans to set out on forestry
| reservations will have been planted.
Rapid progress is reported from the
sections where men are at work.
Plant Valued-Property of the
Angelica Water and Ice Co., operat-
! ing in Reading and vicinity, is valu-
ed by the Public Service Commission
for rate making purpose at $76,500
in an opinion handed down by
Commissioner Milton ]. Brecht dis
missing complaint against its sched-
ule of charges. The results of the
valuation are discussed at length
and Mr.. Brecht says 1.-The fair val
ne of a public service plant is its
reasonable value at the time the
service is being rendered and should
be elastic enough to protect the
rights of the consumer and safe
guard the interests of the utility"
The commission gives seven per cent
as fair and proper rate of return
to which the company is entitled.
Big Increase - The American
Natural Gas and the Gilpin Natural
Gas companies operating in Allie
| gheny, Armstrong, Butler, Indian
and Westmoreland counties, have
| filed notice of increases of rates ef-
| fective May 19 with the Public Ser
vice Commission. The new tariff
provides for an advance from 25 to
2S cents per thousand cubic feet for
| all gas used in excess of half q
million feet a month by manufac-
turers and other large users.
Crossing Approved-The Public
Service Commission has approved
! the applications of the Monongahela
and South railroad for three grade
crossings on it's new line in Greene
county and approved the agree
ments for crossings between the
West Penn Railway Co. and North
Huntingdon township; Westmore-
| land county.
New Captain.-Edwin c. Young
Philadelphia, was to-day appointed
q captain in the Reserve Militia ant
assigned to Company E, First Infan
| try.
Justices Named. - Govern
Brumbaugh to-day appointed Harry
III. Kell as justice of the peace n
Petersburg; L. J. Al Lescure foI
Ridgway and George A. Wilson fo-
Ligonier township, Westmorelant
county.
More Complaints. - Additiona
complaints were filed from Shick
shinny to-day against the new rate
of the LuZerne County Gas and Elec
trio Company, at the Public Servic,
| Commission offices. The commits
sion heard complaints of the bor
ough and residents of Couderspor
| against the rates, fire protection an,
/ To-. xF h.