Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-20
Chairman Smiths Proposed
Public Utilities Commission.
WOULD SERVE AS MODEL
Three Experts to Be Appointed b!
the President.
WOULD REPORT TO CONGRESS
Opposition to the District Commis
sioners' Bill for Regulating Local
Public Service Corporations.

Chairman Smith of the House District
committee came out in most decided fash
ion today in favor of a public utilities
commission with membership of three
TO be appointed by the President. charged
with general supervision of the public
service corporations OF the District Of
Columbia
Some days ago mention was made in
The Star of the introduction by Mr..
Smith Of bill comforting upon the Dis
trict commissioners the powers OF pub
lie service commission. This bill was
prepared at the District building and in
troduced by Mr.. Smith i'm his official ca
pa city as chairman Of the House. District
committee. But he does not favor the
proposition. He thinks there should be
public utilities commission composed of
men Of the highest standing and best
training which would be model Of its
kind.
In discussing the subject today with a
Star reporter Mr.. Smith said
Although I have introduced the Com
missioners' bill asking that the powers
Of public service commission be con-
ferred upon them, another bill will shortly
be framed by the District Commissioners
providing for the appointment by the
President Of the United States of pub
lie utilities commission of three members.
whose recommendations to Congress shall
be the basis of all laws enacted govern
ing public utilities corporations In the
District and regulating the prices they
shall charge for their products and serv-
ices.
Expert Views Wanted.
II have heard the complaint frequent
ly made that the price of gas, electricity
and telephone service in the District is
too high. This commissions first duty
would be to inquire into those matters
and make recommendations to Congress.
The commission should be of such a char
acte-, of such admittedly high standing
and technical ability, that Congress could
follow its recommendations without fear.
II do not believe that the salaries paid
to the members of this commission
should be fixed by any standards of close
economy The salaries should be suf-
ficiently compensatory so as TO enable
the President to obtain the services OF
the three best-known men in this coun-
try with respect to their knowledge OF
public service matters.
Il should be glad to see this commits
sion made up in this way, so that the
evolution of the regulation OF public
service corporations here from the pres
be looked upon in the way of model
procedure by all the rest Of the country.
There is no question Of the need and
| the pressing need. for such a commission
here in the District. There is great de-
mand for cheap gas. Now. I do not feel
qualified to fix the price of gas. 1 do not
know anything about the initial cost Of a
gas plant; 1 do not know how much it
| costs to make gas. and do not know how
much it costs 10 distribute 1t. In other
words. 1 should feel a great delicacy in
shouldering the responsibility Of arbitrari-
| ly naming the figure at which the Wash
ington Gaslight Company, or any other
gas-making concern, should furnish its
product to the consumer. Think. more
over. that this view Is the view taken by
d ma jority of the members of the House
Of Repre- esentatives. The same rule ap-
plies with regard TO electric lights. tele-
phone service. and every other commodity
that is furnished to- the citizens OF WASH
ington by the local public service cor
porations.
Wants a Model Commission. :.
Now the best way to start il to: start