Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1915 — FARMERS DEFY THE UTILJTIES BOARD [ARTICLE]

FARMERS DEFY THE UTILJTIES BOARD

Baswell Fanners to Erect Co-Oper-ative Telephone System in Occupied Territory Boswell. Feb. 21.—Two hundred and fifty Benton coijhty farmers in the vicinity otf Boswell have declined to abide by a ruling of the public service commission of .Indiana and are proceeding to build a co-operative telephone line. Dissatisfied with what they considered to be the unsatisfactory service of the Boswell Telephone company, they started in to organize a cooperative farmers’ company and build a line of their own. The first attempt was before the coupty commissioners, who could not make any decisive order on account of lack of jurisdiction. Thft next was a hearing before the public utilities commission (for a franchise and the result decided that there was no occasion for a second telephone company in Boswell and ordered the old telephone company to make certain improvements and eliminate some concession phones which they have. The farmers proceeded with the organization of their company with the intention of building a line outside of Boswell and waiting for some future opportunity that would give them an entrance into that place. Upon the advice of Attorney Joseph B. Ross, of Lafayette, they proceeded to‘organize a company and issue stock. They are mow facing a suit by the utilities attorney, Bert New, under a statute which forbids the selling of public utility stock under a franchise and permit has been granted by the utilities commission. If convicted and the law upheld they are liable to a fine ranging from $lO to SI,OOO per day, but upon the advice of their attorney they are going ahead to construct the telephone line and have been erecting poles this week. ‘The farmers are only acting within their rights,” said Attorney Ross. ‘They have not been given proper service and they are going to build a rural line of their own. That section of the public utility law which prohibits the issuance of stock by a utility company that has not procured a permit is plainly unconstitutional and has been so held by the Minnesota courts and the supreme court of the U. Sy A few days ago we received notice from the commission that we could avoid prosecution under the statute by disbanding the.company and proceeding no farther with the project. But we are going ahead just the same and we will win out.”