Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
WOULD ASSUME THE CONTROL
COMMISSIONERS WANT PUBLIC
UTILITIES JURISDICTION.
Urge Congress to Give Regulation OF
Local Railways, Lights and
Telephone Companies.

That the District Commissioners are
jealous OF the jurisdiction of the inter
state commerce commission over the local
railway questions and propose to urge
Congress to transfer it, together with the
District electric railway commission. if
needs be. to them, developed in remark
made by a prominent member Of one of
those bodies today, who hastily added
that his name was not to be used in con-
nection with any newspaper discussion of
the subject.
1t is we'll known that the District Com
missioners are fully in sympathy with the
gradual improvements being made in the
railway system through the efforts Of the
interstate commerce commission and its
auxiliary, the District electric railway
commission.
Transfer Urged.
The paragraph from the annual report
of the District Commissioners, which was
published in yesterdays Star and which
urges that the Commissioners be clothed
with the powers of q public service COM
mission is the first open move upon the
subject
The report says with reference 10 the
railway situation:
while the Commissioners racOgH ize
that the District street railway. commits
sion, compos q of three citizens of the
District. appointed by the interstat COM
merce commission to aid in the execution
OF the duty imposed upon the interstate
commerce commission by Congress at the
last session. with respect to the regula-
ton of the street railways of the District
of Columbia has done a valuable and ef
fic.cnt service resulting in Improvement,
tie Commissioners believe THAI this is
strictly municipal function which ought
to be performed by the municipal govern
ment. There is no reason why the inter
state commerce commission should be
performing this function. even with the
aid OF District citizens, who give their
time frc eiy for that purpose. The two
Sd rect railway systems, the two gaSiight
companies, the electric light and power
company and the telephone company
ought 10 be under the sup .rvision of the
Commissioners and the recommendation
of legislation for this purpose is earnestly
renewed"
Opposition to a Change.
On the other hand there are those who
strongly contend for the continuance Of
the jurisdiction of the interstate COM
merce commission, maintaining that as
judicial body with no predominant local
interest. and yet thoroughly conversant
with the details of railway management.
the citizens of Washington have more
to hope for from it than from the Com
missioners, whose influence some declare
does not carry the waight carried by
that of the commission. Members OF the
interstate commerce commission have fire.
quently declared that their duties are al
ready numerous and laborious, and with
out employing their auxiliary commission
it would be almost impossible for them
to properly and effectively deal with the
local railway situation. Already it is un-
derstood that energetic missionary work
Is being done in behalf of the TRANSFER
of jurisdiction to the Commissioners, and
the railways themselves are not idle In
endea voring to take advantage OF the
condition OF affairs presented.