The Washington times., 1908-02-12

commission shall be punished by fine
OF not more than S1,0O0. or BY imprison-
ment or not more than one year. or by
both, and in addition the commissioners
may enforce its orders IN any case OF
mandamus or other legal remedy III any
court Of competent jurisdiction.
Must Testify.
The bin further provides that no per
son shall be excused from testifying
or from producing books or papers in
any investigation upon the ground that
the evidence may tend 10 incrlminate
him or subject him to penalty, but no
person shall be prosecuted or punished
for or on account of any act, transac-
ton, matter, or anything concerning
which he has testified under oath; pro-
vided, however. that no person so tes-
tifying shall be exempt from prosecu-
ton or punishment Tor any perjury
committed by him in his testimony.
The commission is given power TO in
vestigate all accidents resulting in loss
CT life or injury TO property or persons
with which public utility corporations
are alleged to be connected.
Supervise Service.
Power is given the commission TO or
der such changes, Improvements or re-
pairs in the service of the public utility
corporations as may be deemed rea-
sonable and necessary for the good Of
the people. If in the judgment Of the
commission the street railroads do not
run enough cars to accommodate the
trafie or do not run their cars with
sufficient frequency, the commission
shall after q hearing either on its
own motion or on complaint have power
10 order the companies TO increase
their cars or TO change their schedules
Any person aggrfeved or any public
service corporation mentioned in the
act affected by any order which may
be made by the commission may ap-
peal with ten days 10 the Supreme
Court Of the District of Columbia, which
court IS given power TO reverse, modify
or amend any order of the commits
sion. Any party, including the COM
mission, may appeal from decree Of said
court to the Court of Appeals. pro
vided that no appeal. unless the COM
mission shall SO order, shall operate 10
stay any order Of the commission, and
provided further that the commission
shall not be taxed nor shall any OF its
members be taxed with costs or re
quired to give bonds or security IN any
& peal or be held individually liable on
any judgment or decree OF damages or
INJURY claimed by any party.
Can Perform Duties.
Commissioner Macfarland said today
that II the Commissioners are given the
authority and the necessary money they
can perform The duties OF the pro-
posed commission without difficulty.
They would of course, be account
able to Congress and the courts for
any unreasonable exercise Of their
powers in this as in every other case
There was no need for a separate
public service commission. There Is not
enough business TO warrant the expense
of such a body, any more than the con-
tinuous employment OF experts. The
Commissioners could add the new duties
10 their cid duties without interfering
with the latter, since their function
would be 10 pass upon the facts laid
before them, and it would be necessary
10 employ experts only when partic-
uIar case was being examined, and for
that time, and net continuously"
II Congress should enact this law
Commissioner Macfafland said it would
relieve itself of burdensOme tasks and
expedite the solution Of the public utili-
ties problems. while on the other hand
the community and the corporations
would have a tribunal to which they
could resort at all times for the set
Element Of their differences or the vim
diCation OF their rights.
The Commissioners viii, OF course. do
justice to all concerned and see that
reasonable service was rendered for
reasonable con- pensation.