Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1915 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Riports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in Distant and Nearby Cities and Towns.—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. BACKED I P BY ATTORNEYS. Elilily Commission’s Order Is Disregarded; Lafayette; lud., Feb. 19. Two hundred and fifty Benton 'county farmers in the vicinity of 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 despite the fact that they liava been forbidden to do so by the commission. Several weeks ago the farmers, dissatisfied with the servico given by the Boswell Telephone Company, undertook to organize a co-operative company and build a lino of their own. Tlio public servico commission decided there was no occasion for a second telephone system in Boswell, and, after ordering the old company to make certain improvements, the commission refused to give the new company the right to operate. The farmers, however, proceeded to form their company with the Intention of building their line outside the town of Boswell, and wait for some future opportunity to get entrance Into the town. They organized the company and Issued stock. When the public service commission became aware of the fact a notice was sent tne farmers to discontinue selling the stock, and the farmers were threatened with prosecution if they violated a certain section of the public utilities law, which prohibits the selling of public utilities stock until a franchise has been granted by thb public service commission. Under this section of the statute the farmers are liable to a fine of $lO to SI,OOO a day for every day they engage in the selling of stock; but their attorneys have advised them to ignore the commission’s warning, and proceed with the construction of the line. Their attorneys contend that this section of the public utilities law is unconstitutional, and that the ■Minnesota courts and the supreme court of the United States have both decided the question. 'I he erection of poles and wires for the farmers’ co-operative lino is now in progress. In a letter front Burt New, attorney for the public servico commission, received yesterday, the commission signifies its willingness to avoid prosecution provided the farmers will disband their company.