Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-04
Aid to Commission.

THE interstate commerce commission.
by the organic act Of it's creation. is
charged with a great many difficult and
delicate duties. To attempt to go into
all the details of the street railway
question. to ascertain all the facts that
apply to it, both locally and elsewhere
to try, in other words, to regulate the
operations of the.railways so far as Con-
gress expects 1t to do. without assist
ance, would be almost an impossibility
for the members of the commission. If.
at the same time. they are to perform
their other duties
What then was the best thing to be
done? Detail some of our clerks to make
the necessary inquiries and recommend
the necessary remedies. or enlist the serv-
ices of public-spirited men like Gen. Will
son, Mr.. West and Mr.. Smith. men whose
ability. character and integrity place
them high In the confidence and esteem of
the community?
I'VE felt the latter course was far more
desirable, and SO we adopted it, and
want to say that the commission is great
ly pleased with the general satisfaction
that seems to have been expressed at its
action.
Authority Under the Law.
THAT we have the right under the law
to invoke the assistance of subordinates
and agents to assist us in the discharge
Of the duties imposed upon US is abso-
lutely beyond question. and that we have
called to our assistance in this matter
men of ability and competence think will
be generally conceded.
These gentlemen who have consented
TO help us will not be called upon to per-
form the. duties that properly belong to
the interstate commerce commission.
Ihey are not going to make REGULATE
and orders directing this or that to be
done. They are going to look into the de-
tails Of the entire situation, as 1t has
been presented to the commission, to
bring about satisfactory results when 1t
can be done automatically by conference
with the railway officials and petitioners
or compliments and. finally, when there
Is need OF 1t. recommend to the commits
sion such action as In their judgment,
after a careful consideration of all the
will then pass in review, as 1t were, on
the situation and act as it may seem
best.
Present Regulations ALI Right.
1T is the present purpose of the COM
mission to adopt the police regulations
which were in force when the act was
passed committing the street railway
question to 1t. The gentlemen whose aid
we have invoked and whom we will call
the District electric railway commission,
will make inquiries to ascertain how
these matters are regulated In other
cities and will then submit to us their
best Judgment as to what new regulations
should be adopted and what old ones re-
pealed or modified.
''They are fair men. and considerate
men, and, think the railway companies.
as well as the people. may depend upon
it that their judgments will not be mas
tily formed or rashly rendered
THE railway companies have vast sums
invested in their properties. Ihey are
entitled to fair treatment ana they Sldii
have it, But. on the other hand, these
properties are constantly increasing as
their revenues are expanding, ana IL is
only fair, too, that they should CONSIDER
the nee-s of the public. But there are
ve.y many things to be taken into con-
sideration in dealing with the affairs OF
a great system of railways. The man
who knows nothing Of them is apt 10
demand impOssibilities. Each question
that arises must be dealt with in spirit
of Justice to both sides. and 1t shall be,
too so far as the interstate commerce
commission Is concerned
No Delegation Here.
1--WE are not delegating Gus authority.
We are not clothing others with powers
that belong by law to us alone. But We
are invoking the assistance OF the abieSt
counsel at our command to advise US.
after asfull review of the situation. as to
what seems right To do.
Mr.. Knapp spoke of many things con-
nected with the street railway question.
the matter of new and suitable cars, OF
new service, or through service. and the
like, which indicates his comprehensive
grasp Of the situation and the purpose
of the interstate commerce commission
to fairly and justly regulate the opera
tions of the railways in and around wash
ington. and not to revolutionize matters;
Many matters he felt could be adjusted
without regulation or order when both
sides of the question were known and
clearly understood. He does not believe
that the railway companies will withhold
any Just and reasonable service that may
be asked of them, and on the other hand
he does not believe that the people gen.
orally when they understand the facts.
will be unreasonable or demand what
in all fairness the companies cannot grant.
The character and ability of the assist
its aid he believes will be found sufficient
to adjust all differences in manner sat-
isfactory to all concerned.
Mr.. Hamilton's Statement.
President Hamilton of the Capital Trac-
tion Company appears to entertain the
belief that the interstate commerce COM
mission has delegated to the new District
railway electric commission, consisting OF
zen. Jonn A wilson, DlStrlct commas
sioner West an Thomas w. Smith. au-
thority in the matter of the regulation of
the street railways of the District, which
was intended by Congress to be vested in
the commission alone.
Mr.. Hamilton Is reported to have said:
Il have no information except as de-
rived from the press.
THE intention of Congress. as expressed
in section IS of the act of May %. 1905.
was to place this regulation with the in
terstate commerce commission. to be py
that board exercised and applied directly
through its regular agencies. If it is in
tended to clothe the subcommission with
any authority other than that of COM
mission to take testimony the question
will arise as to the constitutionality OF the
subcommission and the power Of the in