The Washington times., 1908-03-13
Public Service Com
mission TO Be
Created.
Given Power to Make
Inquiries and
Fix Rates.
Measure to Be Report
ed and Likely
TO Pass.

u / dOSs
Sweeping and powerful reform in She
control and regulation Of the public
service corporations in the District f
Columbia, IS provided IN a BILL made
public today BY the Houss Committee
on the District OF Columbia. 10 create
a public service commission.
Although the measure has not been
formally voted on by the members OF
/ the committee, they are oUtspokeu ia
their approval Of r. and its provisions
VIII in all probability be enacted into
law.
II provides for a commission Of three
men who shall serve at an annual SAL
airy Of $500 per annum OF these three.
one must be a bona noe resident OF the
District, who has been engaged il the
practice OF law here for flye years pre-
ceding his appointment 70 the commits
sion; the second must be experienced
6s q public service accountant. and The
third must be fully qualified 10 con-
sIruct and value the properties Of pub
lie service corporations. The last two
may be selected by the President from
any part Of the United States.
Can Regulate Corporations.
The bill gives the commission the
power so delve deeply into all the az
fairs OF the public service corporations.
and bestoWs upon il absolute and un-
questioned authority 10 propose and en-
force such regulation OF corporations
as appear 70 II good To- the people OK
| the District.
No person holding stocks or bonds
or IN any other way connected with
the public service corporations shall be
ia any way eligible Tor any sort OF en-
ployment N connection with the COM
mission.
The duties and powers Of the COM
mission are defined in these terms;
THAT the commission is hereby au-
thoriZed and empowered, aud II shall
be its duty. whenever, after reasonable
notice, hearing. and investigation, as
herein provided. Il shall Do OF the ODln-
ion that any or the ta.es, rates, or
charges whatsoever, demanded charged.
or collected by any public-servic5
agency, subject 20 the provisions Of this
act for any commodity or service men
toned IN this act, or that any reSula-
ton or practice whatsoever OF such pub
lic-seryice agency. including such fares,
rates. or charges. and InCluaing but not
excluding other regulation CT practice,
Is unreasonable or UNJUST or dlscrlnll-
Matory or otherwise IN r-"4ation OF any
Of the provisions OF this act, 70 deter
mine and prescribe what VIII be the
reasonable fare, rate. or charge. 70 be
thereafter observed In such cases as q
maximum. and what regulation or prac-
tice in respect 10 sucn service is Just
ard reasonable 10 be thereafter fol
lowed.
Shall Investigate Accidents.
THAT tine commission shall have
power and shall investigate or have
Investigated the cause or all accidents
To ali persons and property which re-
suit from, IN or about the use or opera
ton, or failure TO use or operate the
business, or property, or IN supplying
the service or commodities of any sucl
public service agency and every SUCH
public service agency Is hereby re-
Ouired 10 give prompt written notice 10
the commission OF every SAID acSlHSnJ,
such notice. investigation, or finding
shall not be admitted as evidence
against any such public service egeucy
in any suit or action.
The commission, and each commits
sioner. may CT its own motion InVesti-
gate or make inquiry IN manner 10 be
determined by II, or them, or any OF
them. as TO any act or thing done OF
omitted to be done By any public service
agency in violation Of any provision OF
law or in violation OF any order rule
or regulation Of the commission.
THE commission shall have power.
from time to time. 10 change, alter.
or amend its said rules and regulations
The commission Is hereby authorized
and given power 10 enforce It's orders.
rules and regulations by any proper
legal or eQuita bic remedy in any court
OF competent jurisdiction.
THE commission and each commits
sioner shall have power 10 administer
Oaths, issue subpOenas, end compel the
production OF books and papers and the
attendance of witnesses"
OF the duties of the public service
corporations. the bill SAYS.
THAT Il shall be the duty and Obliga-
ton of such public-SerViCe agencies and
they are hereby required upon reason
able request therefor, to supply 10 any
and all persons, To each other, and the
public applying for such commodities.
transportation, storage, transmission. or
services as the said various agencies
are authorized under any charter
license, or permit, or other authority 10
furnish with adequate, safe. decent.
sanitary, comfortable, and proper IA
cilities. appliances. condition quality.
tire service. and commodities of their re-
spectlVe callingss for 2 reasonable COM
pensation and without discrimination
and every unreasonable charge and all
discrimination IS hereby prohibited and
declared unlawful, and it shall be IN
lawful for. any public.service agency 20
omit, or fail or neglect, or refuse TO
fuIfin In any respect the duty and obliga-
ton and requirement hereinbefors
stated subject to the orders. rules. and
regulations, and under the penalties
hereinafter provided"
This penalty fer failure 20 obey the
orders OF the commission IS heavy. The
bill provides that any person or cor
poration guilty Of disObedience "shail
be deemed guilty OF a nlisdemeanor and
upon conviction in any court Of com
petent jurisdiction shall De fined not
more than five thousand dollars nor
Imprisonment not more than three years.
or both such fine and Imprisonment. "a
the discretion of the court And eaCh
day OF failure or neglect as aforesaid
shall be regarded as q separate ~