Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-13
FOR CONTROL OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Continued from First Page)

tIOntlnue0 from First Pdge.)
of witnesses.
For the purpose Of this act the COM
mission or any duly authorized employe
thereof is hereby given authority. and 1t
shall be its duty, to inspect at any rea-
sonable time the books. accounts records,
memoranda, plants. works. equipment.
appa ratus and paraphernalia of the said
public service agencies.
Power to Fix Rates.
THAT the commission is hereby author
lied and empowered. and it shall be its
duty, whenever. after reasonable notice.
hearing, and investigation, as herein pro-
vided, 1t shall be of the opinion that any
of the fares, rates or charges whatsoever,
demanded. charged or collected by any
public-service agency for any
commodity or service mentioned in this
act, or that any regulation or practice
whatsoever of such public-Service agency,
including such fares. rates or charges. and
including but not excluding other regula-
ton or practice, is unreasonable or un-
just or discriminatory or otherwise In Vio-
lation OF any Of the provisions of this act,
to determine and prescribe what Will be
the reasonable fare, rate or charge, to be
thereafter observed in such case As
maximum. and what regulation or prac-
t1ce In respect to such service Is just and
reasonable to be thereafter followed.
Inquiry Into Accidents.
THAT the commission shall have power
and shall investigate or have investigated
the cause of all accidents to all persons
and property which result from. in or
about. the use or operation or failure to
use or operate the business or property
or in supplying the service or commodities
OF any such public service agency; and
every such public service agency is here
by required to give prompt written notice
to the commission of every said accident:
such notice. investigation or finding shall
not be admitted evidence against any
such public service agency in any suit or
action.
The commission, and each commits
sioner. may of its own motion Investigate
or make inquiry In a manner to be de-
termined by it, or them. or any of them.
as to any act or thing done or 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.
That If, in the Judgment of the COM
mission. repairs or improvements to or
changes in any buildings or property of
any public service agency, or in or about
the service to the public or employees of
any such agency. ought reasonably to be
made. or that any addition ought rea-
sonably to be made thereto in order to
promote the security or convenience Of
the public or employees or in order to
secure adequate facilities for the public
service. the commission shall, after hear
ing. either on its own motion or on COM
plant. make and serve an order directing
such repairs. improvements, changes or
additions to be made within a reasonable
time and In a manner to be specified
therein, and every public service agency
Is hereby required and directed. under
the penalties in this act provided. to
make all reasonable repairs. improve
ments. changes and additions required of
1t by any order of the commission.
The commission Is authorized and en-
powered to prescribe a period of time
within which each class of publice serv-
ice agencies shall have and keep as near
as may be uniform system of accounts
and the manner In which said accounts
shall be kept. and when so prescribed
1t shall be unlawful under the penalties
IN this act provided for any public-serv-
ice agency to keep other or different ac-
counts. records and memoranda than
those prescribed by the commission.
Regulation Of Transfers.
1.-THE commission shall have power to
establish and regulate from time to time
the matter Of transfers for passengers or
property on, over and between all street
railways within the District Of Columbia,
and to make all needful rules and regula-
tlOnS pertaining thereto.
'"That the authority heretofore con-
ferred on the supreme court of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, or on the Commission
ers Of the District Of Columbia, relating
to reciprocal trackage between street
railway companies in the District of Co
lumbia is hereby vested in the commits
sion created by this act.
THAT the findings of fact made by said
commission shall in all cases be prima
facie evidence Of the matters therein
stated.
THAT the commission shall have power,
and it shall be it's duty to make or cause
to be made a valuation of all property,
rights. franchises and good will of all
public-service agencies
Section four authorizes the commission
to appoint secretary. under bond, who
shall keep docket and minutes of the
proceedings of the commission, which
shall be held to be public records.
The commission Is to be open, as the
times for the transaction of business ex-
cepting only on Sundays and legal hoii-
days, and each member must devote his
whole time to his duties.
The commission is authorized to rent or
lease necessary Office rooms and TO en-
ploy counsel experts and other employees,
and fix their compensation.
The remainder of this section has to
do with the procedure under which the
commission shall conduct inquiries.
immunity Tor witnesses.
Section provides that mo person shall |
be excused from testifying or from pro-
ducing any books or papers in any in
vestigation or inquiry by or upon any
hearing before said commission or COM
missioner when ordered to do SO by the
commission, upon the ground that the tes-
timony or evidence, books or documents
required of him may tend to incriminate
him or subject him to penalty or for
fixture; but no person shall be prose-
cuted. punished or subjected to any pen
atty or forfeiture for or on account of
any act. transaction. matter or thing con-
corning which he shall under oath have
testified or produced documentary evil
dence: Provided, however, that no per-
son SO testifying shall be exempt from
prosecution or punishment for perjury
committed by him in his testimony. Moth |
ing herein contained is intended to give.
or shall be construed as in any manner
giving. to any corporation immunity of
any kind.
ANY person who shall wilIfully swear |
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