Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-25

pie they then give permission for
the change and after period pre-
scribed by law. the change is made.
If. however. the people take excep-
tions to the new rates, then the COM
mission appoints a time for public
hearing at which time both sides of
the question are presented. They
then make their decision as they
see fit.
They also have authority to see
that the companies furnishing light
and power to the people give good
service and this at a reasonable
rate. They see that the voltage OF
the electric lines and the pressure
on the gas mains is kept up. that
the high tension wires are so fixed
, as to offer the minimum Of danger.
and things of like nature.
!. They also have authority to cause
crossings either over or under rail-
roads to be made safe. Mr.. Black
told of one interesting case of this
nature. where before the commits
sion took action, it was possible to
see the road but 80 feet from the
crossing and after the work was
completed it was possible to see
nearly $50 feet.
The Public Utilities Commission
has still another duty. Every three
months they see that a sample OF
the water from the various water
supplies of this State are taken to
the State Laboratory for analysis.
If anything wrong is found at any
time with the analysis Of one OF
these samples. they Immediately
| take steps to find out the reason
If town desires to start a water
supply Of their own. it is necessary
! for that town to get the approval
| of the commission before the system
is started. Similarly, if the town
wishes to start sewerage system,
1t IS necessary that the commission
I pass upon the plan in order that the
sewerage may not contaminate any
existing water supply.
| DR.. Gertrude Hall of the Board of
/ Charities and Corrections then gave
an interesting talk upon the work
of that department. She told Of the
! two major things which they were
doing, namely; the Mothers Aid
work and the Chldren's Guardian
work.
| The first, that of the Mothers Aid
work is intended for mothers with
/ children under IS years Of age.
whom they must support This work
I closely n
ing mothers may get the benefit of
| the money and that they do not mis-
| use 1t. When the aid is desired bv
& mother she makes application to
the municipal board which, after
making an Investigation of the con-
dltons, makes report to the State
board. After the State board has
passed upon the application they
then turn it over to the district
agent who also makes an invcstira-
ton.
After the request has been grant
Ell the mother draws the money from
the town where she lives, and the
town in turn gets one half Of the
amount from the State every three
months. In this way the town paws
one-half the amount and the State
pays the balance.
II the family needs hospital treat
Ment. this is forthcoming il they
VIII get their own TRANSPORTATION to
one of the Mothers Aid hospitals. In
this way they get the advantage of
expert treatment for the price Of
their transportation.
oh
taken up by Mr.. Hall This work is
That of seeing that the children of
the state are properly taken care of.
II child is mistreated or neglected
the Board of Charities and Correc-
ions has power to take it from It's
parents and put it in home where
1t VIII be properly treated.
a number of children are taken
care of in this way and they often
find free homes where they will be
we'll taken care of without expense
to the State. One interesting thing
that developed in connection with
this work is that the family crisis
which usually causes the board to
take action, seldom comes before the
enid is six years old and the most
of them come between the ages OF
six and II years.
a short talk was then given by Mrs.
}. II. Hodgkins who spoke on Com
munity Service. In this connection
she called upon Mrs. Frank Earring
ton of the East Side Association to
tell of the work which that organi-
cation was doing to help the poor
children of this city. This was
very interesting talk and spoke much
for the kindness of the ladies of the
club.
Before the speakers were introduce
cd the meeting was called to order
by the president, Mrs. Frank South
ard. The minutes Of the last meet
ing were read and the roll call was
answered by reading little articles on
civiCs.
Following the talk of the work of
the East Side Association the club
voted to donate IS to the work of
this organization. The ladies then
PASSED a few minutes over the tea
table before going to their homes.