The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-04
INTRODUCE BILL TO
FORCE REVISION OF
n. D. UTILITY RATES
Provide That Cost Of Revalua.
ton Shall Be Borne by
Service Company

On petition Of Is per cent Of the
public utility patrons in any city. viii
lage or town. the state railroad COM
mission would be required to revalue
property of the company at the util-
ity firms expense, according to the
provisions of bill introduced In the
senate Friday by Senator's A. F. Bon
yer, Richland county. and Charles G.
Bangert. Ransom.
The bill provides that on being Pc
titioned, the railroad board "endeavor
to arrive at a reasonable rate or rates
through negotiations with the utility
company, the new rate to be not less
than Is per cent under the old rate.
If the commission and the company
fail to agree it would be mandatory
on the part of the commission Ito
summarily and forthwith reduce the
rates Is per cent" until a hearing Is
held to revalue the property. A Pc
tition for revaluation could not be
filed more than once every two years.
If rates are summary reduced, the
utility company would be permitted to
charge its former rate, provided it
kept Is per cent Of the collections in
q separate fund, to be RENTED to its
patrons If the case is decided adj
versely.
The commission is authorized by
the bill to employ rate experts, engi-
neers, accountants and other expert
assistance, the expense Of these en-
ployes to be paid by the utility firm.
being investigated.
Utility companies included under
the proposed bill are pipeline compa-
MES for transportation of gas. oil and
water: telephone and telegraph COM
panies: electric light companies anc
individuals engaged In. generating,
distributing and selling light. heat or
power; companies engaged in distri-
buting natural or artificial gas, and
all heating companies.
The measure was referred to the
judiciary committee.
Would Aid Soldier Home
~ Ullk xO q 0Z6,VOV dRSAORA A0 tAOAA
for the Soldiers Home at Lisbon was
offered in the senate. with an ex-
PLANTATION that lowing to the financial
depression it seems that it will be i'm
possible for the North Dakota Sol
diers' Home to continue to take care
Of and provide for those members now
in the home without some assistance"
Provision for liens in favor Of hos
pitals and other charitable tnstitu-
lions treating persons injured in ac-
cidents Is made in bill presented In
the senate by Senator'S G. A. Jones
and J. H. Burkhart Of Ward.
A bill aimed at prohibiting slot
machine" gas pumps passed the SEN
ate.
8. q. Mcdonald, Burleigh county.
author Of the proposal. said there
were no "slot" machine pumps In the
state but that they had been installed
in other states. He termed the ma
chimes a fire hazard because they
operated automatically by insertion
Of q coin by the purchaser. His bill
requires that a bona fide employe or
the owner must operate . gasoline
filling station.
The senate approved. by q IS to II
vote, q bill to permit dentists to adj
minister intoxicating liquors to pa
tients on the same basis as physicians.
E. M. Indegaard and Arthur Trovat-
ten are authors OF the proposal.
An appropriation Of $4,000 for vo-
cational education and rehabilitation
passed the senate.