The Washington herald., 1908-01-25
THREATEN TO PROBE
commissioners Would InVeS-
tigate Local Corporations.
ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL POWER
Chairman Smith. of the House Dis
trict Committee, Comedies with
Their Suggestion, Saying He Is of
Opinion Work of Committee WOuId
Thus he Greatly Facilitated.

IF there was some responsible organi-
zation here like there Is in New York
State to report on the public utilities cor
porations, believe the work OF this com
mittee would be facilitated" declared
Chairman Smith, of the House District
Committee yesterday.
He was discussing the letter of the
Commissioners recommending that they
be given additional power through a COM
mission to investigate the workings OF
the corporations in the District of Co
lumbia
For the past two years I have given "a
great deal of attention to these questions,
such as gas, street railway ransporta-
tion, and electric lighting services. l
have talked with men of national repu-
tation, who nave devoted time and study
10 these propositions.
From what / have heard from mem
bers of this committee. they are in favor
Of such a commission. with IT, infOma-
tion could be CLEANED that would form a
basis for intelligent legislation by this
committee For instance. there Is great
agitation in Detroit for Scent fares. They
have overhead trolley systems. If that
fare is just there is it Just here, where
they have conduit systems, that cost
three times as much as the other? That
is a question on which We might be
greatly enlightened by such q commits
sion, composed of honest, able men, who
know their subjects and who could re-
port intelligently to Congress.
Refers 10 Gas Question.
Take the gas situation. It is unfair,
as 1 have learned in the past two years,
10 judge that subject for one city by the
standard set by another city. II is a To-
cal question here, and should De settled
by local Investigations. If this committee
had absolutely accurate information as 20
the local conditions, it could leglslate ac-
cording to the evidence. and the members
could look every citizen and every stock
holder in the companies In the face, and
show that the legislation had been based
on facts.
Because gas can be sold in other cities
for such a price is no reason TO believe
it can be sold in all cities for the same
price. Local conditions vary and If there
is a commission of this kind named We
could know just what would be a fair
price for gas here, and could legisIate
with the assurance that the courts would
not find we had acted I'm a cOndscatoTy
manner.
should Not Delay Action.
with the members of the committee
TO whom l have talked, I do not believe
such a commission should OF could be
made the means of delaying legislation.
I believe that when such commission
is created, if it is, there should be speci-
fed in the bill that reports should be
made separately on each subject en-
bodied-gas, electric lights, traction lines
and SO on. Then we could handle each
subject separately and hurry legislation. @"
The Commissioners yesterday made q
report 10 the committee on the Madden
bill for universal transfers. They de-
clare there is precedent in nearly all
large cities for such transfers, and say
that all Washington favor IT,
"The details as TO the appointment of
such a commission must be thrashed out
in the committee" " said Chairman Smith,
such "a plan"
Representative Sims, ranking Demo
cratic member on the committee, declined
10 commit himself on the proposition un-
til he has seen the bill that viii be for
wdrded by the Commissioners
IT it is only a plan for delay" he
said, 1T is not worth discussing, If it
is not, and there is reason TO believe that
1. such a commission could be properly qU-
a0inted, and could have powers thar
sSyould make it effective. il is another
proposition. I shall wait until 1 see the
bill before I say anything about it,"
The letter Of the Commissioners says
that the commission should be given
powers similar 10 that Of the recently
created public service corporation in New
York, and should be given authority and
funds 10 employ from time to time the
experts needed 20 make the Investigations
called <0T