Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-13
CHARGES DEFIANCE

The Public Utilities Commission
Friday sent a communication to At
torney General Ransford w. Shaw
saying that 1t is constrained to feel
that the officials of the Maine
Central Railroad and the Portland
Terminal Company arc setting at
defiance the laws of the state in not
filing schedules affecting the trans
portation of pulp wood. logs and
bolts. The attorney general is asked
to take such action as is necessary
in the matter.
The procedure by the Public
Utilities Commission yesterday is
the first of its kind in the history
of the State.
''The Maine Central Railroad Co,
on Jan. 4, 1924, filed with this
commission it's tariff applicable to
local mileage movement of COM
modities therein specified" says the
communication of the Public Ctili-
ties Commission.
by its supplement issued and
filed on the same date pulpwood
rates ex water from Portland to
Livermore Falls and Rumford were
increased.
"Complaints being made by var
ious shippers, this commission. by
order dated Feb. IA, 1924. specified
that q public hearing would be held
at it's offices in the State House on
Feb. %, and notices were given to
tho compliments and to the re-
spondent. the Maine Central Rail-
road Company.
"After hearings this commission
on August i. 1924, filed its decision
nf (fhlntpr Al
the Public Laws of 1917 declaring
that the rates established by the
Maine Central Railroad Company, to
be effective. Feb. 5, 1924, applicable
to carload shipments of pulpwood,
bolts and logs, were unreasonable,
and fixing in place thereof the
maximum rates. toll O: charge which
thereafter be collected for the SER
vice rendered.
Subsequently thereto. Sept. s.
1924. the Maine Central Railroad
Company filed petition for re-hear-
ing. After hearing the petition,
such rehearing was denied by this
commission dated Oct. "a, 1924.
"One of the essentials to an intel
ligent understanding by the public
OF the cost of service IS the filing o.
schedules of rates applicable to COM
modities to be moved by any trans
portation company. The legislature,
recognizing this, required by the act
of Chapter 129 of the Public Laws
of 1913, the filing by every public
utility of schedules open to public
inspection, showing all rates, tolls
and charges which it has establish
ed. The same act, under Section %
of Chapter 55 of the Revision of
1915. provides that
mo change shall hereafter be
made in any schedule except upon
80 DAYS notice to the commission,
and all such changes shall be plainly
indicated upon existing schedules by
filing new schedules in lieu thereof
so days prior to the time the same
are to take effct."
A provision followinS this states
that the commission may, for good
causes shown, modify the require
ments of. this section and allow the
filing. publishing and posting of
schedules within a period less than
so days. This statute ordains under
Section 90:
copies of all new schedules shall
be filed as hereinbefore provided in
every station and Office of such public
Utility. where payments are made by
customers or users, ~ days prior to
the time the same are to take effect,
unless the commission shall pre-
scribe less time as provided in the
preceding section.
Section so, as amended by
Chapter 12O of the laws Of 1929, pre-
scribes;
1T shall be unlawful for any pub
lie utility to charge. demand, collect
or receive a greater or less compen-
sation for any service performed by
it within the state or for any ser