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COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF LAWS

RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF

Telephone and Telegraph Companies

By Commission

IN FORCE NOVEMBER 1, 1913

THIRD EDITION

COMPILED BY

AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY

BOSTON

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SCOPE.

It is the purpose of this Summary to bring together under general headings, all important provisions of the various state commission laws relating to the supervision of telephone and telegraph companies.

General corporation law is not included, except in so far as it has been embodied in the commission laws. Thus a provision prohibiting stock dividends is included in the Summary if it is a part of the commission law of any state, but such a provision, appearing only in the general corporation law of a state, would be omitted.

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For brevity, quotations are not always made in full, and provisions differing only in details of phraseology, if at all, are noted as "similar to or identical with " provisions appearing under other states.

The material under each subject is arranged by states in alphabetical order. The index has been greatly amplified in an effort to make readily accessible all matters contained in the Summary. A table of Sources has also been included.

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The general headings are the same as those of the Second Edition, with the following additions:

I-7.

III-16a.

IV-16.

V-9.

V-10.

V-11.

Date of Jurisdiction over Telephone and Telegraph Companies.
Preservation of Records.

Witness Fees.

Corporate Affairs.

Secretary or Clerk of Commission.

Definitions.

LAWS INCLUDED.

In addition to the laws relating to the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Public Utilities Commission of the District of Columbia this edition includes the commission laws of the following forty states:

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1 The commission law, enacted in 1913, was made the subject of three referendum petitions, which are now pending, to be voted on November 3, 1914.

Law effective January 1, 1914.

Law passed in 1913. Referendum now pending, to be voted on September 14, 1914. The commission has authority over telegraph companies only in connection with the issuance of securities and the construction of lines over railroads.

5 The act of 1913, creating the public service commission to succeed the railroad commission, becomes fully effective January 1, 1914. As to organization, etc., it was effective prior to that date.

• The commission has no authority over telegraph companies except in connection with the construction of lines over railroads, and valuation for assessment.

7 Jurisdiction does not include entire state. See p. 36.

8

Telephone companies are subject to the " public utilities law" and telegraph companies to the "railroad law." The stock and bond law of 1911 applies to both.

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In addition to the above, a commission with very limited jurisdiction over telephone and telegraph companies exists in each of the following states:

Kentucky (Physical connection, p. 193; Consolidations, p. 355).

Texas (Free service, etc., p. 154).

The details of organization, etc., of these commissions are not included in this Summary.

COMMISSION LAWS NOT INCLUDED.

In the following states a railroad or similar commission exists which has no jurisdiction over telephone and telegraph companies, except as to wires crossing railroads in Iowa and Minnesota (see pp. 394, 395):

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There are municipal commissions or a commissioner having more or less authority over telephone and telegraph companies in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; Wilmington, Delaware (Delaware Laws 1911, c. 206), and Houston, Texas.

In California a constitutional amendment is now awaiting a vote by the people, which, if adopted, will deprive municipalities in that state of authority to regulate the rates and service of public utilities. See Resolves 1913, c. 93. The commission in Denver, Colorado, will probably be divested of power if the law creating the state commission is adopted by the people. The municipal commissions formerly existing in Missouri were divested of power by the law creating the public service commission (1913, p. 556).

The control of telephone and telegraph companies by cities under the commission form of municipal government is not within the scope of this Summary.

CANADA.

There are six commissions in Canada which have jurisdiction over telephone and telegraph companies. The laws creating them, referred to below, are not included.

Dominion.

Manitoba.

Board of Railway Commissioners for Canada. Railway Act, Rev. Stats. 1906, c. 37; Stats. 1908, chs. 61, 62; 1910, c. 57; 1913, c. 44.

Public Utility Commission. Stats. 1912, chs. 66, 75; 1913, c. 54.

New Brunswick. Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities. N. B. Acts 1910, c. V; 1911, c. LV; 1912, c. XV.

Nova Scotia.

Ontario.

Quebec.

Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities. N. S. Laws 1913, c. 1.

Ontario Railway and Municipal Board. Stats. Ont. 1910, c.
84; amended 1911, c. 55; 1913, c. 37.

Quebec Public Utilities' Commission. Rev. Stats. Que. 1909,
Arts. 718-768; amended Stats. 1911, c. 14.

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