The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 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.

Sweeping and powerful reform IN the
control and regulation OF the public
service corporations in the District 4
Columbia. is provided in a bill. made
public toCay by the House Committee
on the District OF Columbia. TO create
a public service commission.
Although the measure has not been
formally voted on by the members Of
the committee. they are Outspok5u in
their approval Of q, and its provisions
Vii II all probability be enacted into
law.
II provides for a commission Of three
men who shall serve at an annual SAL
aTy Of $500 per annum or these three.
one must be a bona fide resident OF the
District, who has been engaged Ia the
practice OF law here for rlVe years pre-
ceding his appointment 70 the commits
sion; the second must be experienced
& public service accountant. and the
third must be fully qualified 10 con-
stTuct 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 TO delve deeply into all the af-
fairs OF the public service corporations,
and bestows upon IL absolute and un-
questioned authority 70 propose and en-
force such regulation OF corporations
as appear 70 il good for the people OF
Jhe District
10 person holding stocks or bonds
or Ia any other way connected with
the public service corporations shall be
IN any way eligible Tor any sort Of en-
ployment IN connection with the COM
mission,
The duties ana powers OF the COM
mission are defined in these terms:
That the commission is hereby au-
thOTiZed and empowered, and Il shall
be It's duty whenever, after reasonable
herein provided. Il shall be of the opin-
ion that any OF the fares, rates, or
charges whatsoever, demanded. charged,
or collected by any public-serVlc5
act. for any commodity or service men
toned IN this act. or that any regula-
ton or practice whatsoever or such pub
iic-serVice agency, including such fares.
rates. or charges. and including but not
excluding other regulation or practice,
is unreasonable or unjust or dlscrlml-
natory or otherwise IA violation OF any
Of the provisions of this act, 70 deter
mine and prescribe wat viii be the
reasonable fare. rate. or charge. 10 be
thereafter observed in such cases as q
maximum, and what regulation or prac-
tice in respect 10 such service IS Just
and reasonable to be thereafter fol-
lowed.
Shall Investigate Accidents.
THAT the commission shall have
power and shall investigate OF have
investigated the cause OF all accidents
TO al persons ana property which re-
suit from, In or about the use or opera
ton OF failure TO use OF operate the
business, or property. OF IN supplying
the service OF commodities of any suca
public service agency and every such
public service agency Is hereby rr-
OIIired to give prompt written notice 10
the commission OF every said aCci1enU;
such notice, investigation, or IlndlnS
shall not be admitted as evidence
against any such public service agency
in any suit or action.
The commission and each C0nlni5-
sioner, may Of its own motion WVestI-
gate or make inquiry, In manner 10 ne
determined by II, or them. or any OF
them as 10 any act or thing done o.
omitted 10 be done by any public ser-ics
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, TO change, alter,
or amend its said rules and regulations
The commission is hereby authorized
and given power 20 enforce its orders,
rules and regulations by any proper
legal or eQuita BILE remedy in any court
Of competent jurisdiction.
''Ihe commission and each commits
sIoner shall have power 10 administer
Oaths. issue subpOenas, and compel the
production Of books and papers and the
attendance OF witnesses"
OF the duties of the public service
corporations the bill says
That IT shall be the duty and Obliga-
ton of such public-service agencies, and
they are hereby required upon reason
able request therefor, 10 supply To 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,
power, maintenance, and convenience.
the service and commodities of their re-
spective callings, for a reasonable con-
pensation and without discrimination
and every unreasonable charge and all
discrimination is hereby prohibited and
declared unlawful. and it shall he uu-
omit or fail, or neglect, or refuse 20
fulfill IN any respect the duty and obliga-
Tiou and requirement hereinhef0rs
stated. subject TO the orders, rules. and
regulations, and under the penalties
hereinafter provided.
The penalty for failure TO obey the
orders of the commission IS heavy. The
hin provides that any person or cor
guilty Of dIsobedience shall
be deemed guilty Of a, misdemeanor, and
upon convection IN any court of com
petent Jurisdiction shalt be fined lot
more than i've thousand dollars nor
Imprisonment not more than three years,
or both. such fine and imprisonment. in
the discretion of the court. Ard each
shall be regarded as q separate 81
fanSaE