Show PROBE or OF All RATES ORDERED BY COMMISSION Utilities es Board Is 15 Adv Advised sed Th That t Provisions of Smith Smith- Hoch loch Resolutions Are to toBe toBe toI I Be Observed The public utilities commission has been advised by the general so solicitor solicitor solicitor so- so of the National Association of ot Railroad and Utilities Commis Commis- of ot the action of ot the interstate Interstate interstate inter Inter- state commerce commission under the provisions of ot the Smith Hoch I resolution which commission has baa Instituted an investigation to in involve In- In volve vol every conceivable rate of every evely kind of carrier subject subject- to the interstate commerce act Railroads and pipe lines express companies I telephone telegraph and cable com corn compani companies pani s operated by w wire re or wireless and all an persons natural and artificial artificial arti arti- coming within the description tion of ot common carriers under the interstate commerce act are I made parties re respondent I STARTLING ORDER In a bulletin to the public U I- I I ties lies commission it is pointed out that the startling feature of ot the order is that it Is designed as the secretary's notice states to place liace under investigation and challenge challen e I not only ever every interstate rate of f every sort and description but every intrastate rate as well The purpose of or the order of in fn investigation investigation in- in it is pointed out would seem apparent to lay Jay the groundwork ground ground- w work rk for Cor any order older prescribing Intrastate in In- In Intrastate rates which the Interstate te commerce commission commission- may as the reSUlt of ot its investigation determine determine deter- deter mine to make male and that nothing going going go- go going ing so fa far I as this has haser ever ever er been thought of at ot-at at least spoken of of be be fore BROAD ALLEGATION it t is also pointed out that tIte proceedings involving Intrastate rates which followed ed the enactment enactment enact enact- ment meat of ot the thet transportation act at least gave the states an opportunity ty to know what rates were alleged to be discriminatory and anti gave gave them opportunity for hearing This order or or- or der tier aims alms to put all of the millions of ot intrastate rates under question in a single proceeding without any allegation that they are In In fact discriminatory for any reason Obviously Obviously Obviously Ob Ob- Ob- Ob no state can prepare to de defend tie tie- fend such a proceeding In the notice of the secretary of or the Interstate commerce commission commission commis commis- sion slon no date for hearings is an- an announced an an- I Parties and public authorities au- au state ann and federal nav mv file briefs discussing the pi proper ipei Interpretation in- in of the Smith Hoch resolution same to be be filed with the commission by May 15 and may be replied to toby by answer anwer briefs filed by June 15 1925 I |