The Washington times., 1908-02-12
Kills RightOf Concerns
to Raise Capital Pro-
miSCuOuSly.
Public Utilities Would
Be Forced Into
Line.

mo public service corporation do
ing business in the District Of Co
lumbia shall increase its capital stock
or issue bonds, either directly or in
directly, without first obtaining the
consent and approval Of this com
mission, which shall first determine
the need therefor and the amount of
the increase to be allowed, and here
after every issue of stock or bmi4s
contrary to the order of the said
commission or without such order
Shall be Invalid and unlawful"
Plea to Cnogress.
The above Is a section Of a bill
prepared by Corporation Counsel E.
H. Thomas at the request Of Com
missioner mcfarland, the purpose
of which is to carry into effect the
recommendation made by the Com
nissioners in their annual report 10
Congress that they be clothed with
the powers of a public utilities com
mission, so that with the assistance
Of disinterested experts they viii be
able TO settle all questions as to
the relation Of the public to the
public utility corporations Of the
District of Columbia.
The Commissioners are the VIC
tors thus far in their attempts to
defeat the increase Of capitalization
in the stock of the Washington and
Georgetown Gas Light Companies.
To make assurance doubIy sure,
however, they viii earnestly advo-
cate the passage Of the bill which,
if adopted, viii forever Illustrate
the plans Of the gas companies or
other public utility corporations to
add to the burdens Of the people.
C5vers All Questions.
The bill covers every question
pending or likely to arise regarding
the service of the corporations.
The jurisdiction given the pro-
posed commission extends to all
railroads and street railroads living
wholly or partly in the District OF
Columbia; to any common carrier
operating in said District, TO the
manufacture, sale, and distribution
of gas, and electricity, for light.
heat and power; to telephones and
telephone service, and the reason
able rates and chargs therefor, aud
the regulation Of said rates aud
charges.
Annual Reports.
The bill provides that IN addition to
| the reports now required by law, annual
| reports to the commission, shall be
made by the corporations as the com
mission may require. The commission Is
given power to administer oaths, and
/ any person who shall willfully swear
! falsely IN any complaint proceeding or
investigation shall be deemed guilty OF
perjury. The commission IS given power
and jurisdiction 70 issue and at its
pleasure to revoke all necessary permits
or licenses to carry the act into effect
and to make. alter, or amend all reason
able rules and regulations which when
made she'll be valid and binding on the
corporations.
The commission and each commits
sioner IS given power 10 examine all
books contracts records, documents.
and papers of any OF the corporations
subject 10 its supervision and TO sum
mon by subpoena the attendance and
testimony OF witnesses and the prOduC-
ton OF all documentary evidence relat-
ing to the matter under investigation.
May Order Testimony.
The commission may also IN all cases
order testimony TO be taken by deposl-
ton under the statutes and rules a.
plicable to the practice IN the Supreme
Court OF the District OF Columbia And
the Supreme Court may in the case OF
refusal 70 obey a subpoena issue an or
der requiring the witness to appear be
fore the commission and produce books
and papers, if so ordered. Failure TO
do this viii be deemed contempt
court.
The findings of fact by the commIs-
sion shall in all cases be made prima
facie evidence. The commission may
grant a rehearing ir any case and may
at any time modify, alter. or revoke any
order made by It. All persons or cor
Dor2tions violating any order Of the