The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-24
MINOR CHANGES IN
 UTILITIES BILL ARE
 BEFORE COMMITTEE
Measure Still Gives Authori- ly to Regulate Rates of Street Railway Com-
 panies in Cities
By WILLIAM L. GoRMLEY

Montgomery, August 23.-(SpeciaL) Minor changes are made in the so- called Public Utilities Commission bill, which was re-introduced in the house of representatives during the week. following the withdrawal by the author of the original bill, when strong oppo- sition developed to certain sections. ThA bill is now before the house com mittee on judiciary, and a report is ex- pected in short time. Five hundred copies of the new bill have been ordered printed by the house, for the persual of the representatives.
 Bhe opposition to the original bill. brought up as unfinished business on last Wednesday, developed unusual strength on the section relating to an increase in salaries of the commission members, and the secretary of the com mission. Another section which wa the target of the opposition was tha, which gave the commission power to re- gulate rates of street railway companies having a contract with the municipan- ties. The original bill would declare the contract void, and would permit the state commission to have exclu- sive control of the rates.
 An investigation of the new bill shows there is only minor change in this section Section 46 of the new bill follows:
 tThe commission shall have general and exclusive power and Jurisdiction to regulate and supervise every trans portation company and utility in re- spect of its rates anRservice regula- tions, and in respect Of its franchise, license and contracts, in so far as they effect its rules and service regulations. and in respect of it's financing and se curities in accordance with the pro- visions and subject to the reserva- tions of this act, and to do all things necessary and convenient in the exer- else of such power and Jurisdiction. Nothing in this act, however, shall be deemed to confer upon the commits sion power and Jurisdiction to regulate and supervise in respect of rates and service regulations any transportation company or utility owned and operated by any municipal corporation in the state. From time to time the commits sion may make such recommendations to any municipal corporation which owns and operates a transportation company of Utility as from its expe- rience in the administration of this act may seem to the commission nec- essary or advisable."
 The section of the old bill, relating to this question: follows:
 Section 50. Regulation and super vision of transportation companies and utilities-The commission shall have general power and Jurisdiction to re- gulate and supervise every transpor- tatiox company and utility, and their property, property rights, plants. fa- cilities, practice rules service rates, | fares, charges. service regulations, | franchises, licenses ani contracts, and financing and securities, in accordance | with the provisions of and to do all things necessary and convenient Nin | the exercise of such powers and juris- | diction."
 The first paragraph of the section ! is changed, and the second paragraph | is added to the new bill.
 Opposition claimed that tho state | commission would have the power and | authority, under the old bill, to con trol rates charged by the street rail | way companies of Birmingham and | Mobile where contract exists between | the company and city, as well as other cities where rates are controlled by 1 the municipality. The bill would not | affect the jurisdiction of the city of ] Montgomery because a contract does 1 not exist The city now has six cent | car fare, with an agreement that the l rate shall become seven and if neces- sary eight cents.
 The bill makes the salary of the | president of the commission $500, and i the salary of each associate commits sioner S5,000 The sal,ry of the sec retary is fixed at mot exceeding $500 | per annum." The name of the com mission is changed from the Alabama Public Service Commission to the Ala bama Railroad and Public Utilities Commission.
 A section of the bill makes provi- sion for the employment of additional | help, including accountants. engineers, inspectors, clerks an1 experts when such is approved by the governor of Alabama. The bill contains 117 sec tions.
 Impeachment of the president and associate commissioners Is provided for by the supreme court of Alabama. Many features of the 1907 and 1911 law, relating to the commission, are con- tained in the new bill, as well as sec tions which provide for the commis- sion having control of all securities issued by public utilities. etc, in the state. { The attorney-general shall be | ex-officio counsel for the commission. An appeal from a decision of the com mission to the supreme court as pro- vided for in all cases.
 Section 59, relating to examination of books, follows:
 The commission shall have the power and authority and 1t shall be it's duty to examine and inspect or cause to be examined or inspected at reason able times and in reasonable manner under it's authority, the books, record. ;, accounts. documents, plant, property and facilities of any transportation or utility insofar as the same may be per tinent to any matter under investiga- tion before the commissions; provided. that any person shall produce when so required, his authority from the commission to make such examination | or inspection under the seal of the com | mission'
 The commission may also require | the books of utilities and transporta- ticn companies when necessary for II their inspection and examination by | tae commission.
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