The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
MAY CURB UTILITIES
Congress Will Be Asked to
Create a Commission.
HOUSE MEMBERS ARE FOR IT
Committee ON District of Columbia
FavOTs Supervision OF Public Serv-
ice Corporations Bill Likely TO he
Introduced soon Floor Leader
Payne Desires Commission.

Strict supervision Of the public service
corporations OF the District of Columbia
will be advocated by the District Commit
tee Of the House. and. from g statement
made yesterday by one of the leaders OF
that body. probably by the House itself.
Not only did a majority OF the members
of the House District Committee place
themselves on record as favoring some
legislation looking to the supervisory con-
troll of the public service corporations,
but Floor Leader Serene Payne. during the
discussion of the Union Station trackage
BILL made an unqualified statement liz
which he said that he Is impressed with
the need OF such control
There has so far been much talk OF the
introduction Of such law in the House.
and one bin which. If not creating a pub
/ lie service commission. has something Of
the end desired by such creation in view,
has already been put before the House.
! The members OF the committee who
were asked to give their opinions on the
enactment Of some provision for the su-
pervision Of the public service corpora
tons were not asked as to whether they
favor the creation Of a commission. which
doubtless would be somewhat similar TO
that now in existence ia New York State
should BE Commission.
| Practically all the members of the COM
mittee. however took the attitude that
the law which should be passed should
be one creating a separate commission
and not one. like that already introduced
delegating to the District Commissioners
the power TO regulate the public service
/ corporations.
Several members OF the committee have
for some time favored the creation OF a
commission. and have been working upon
some method whereby such legislation
might be made possible
The difficulties which have beset the
/ House Committee in the bill which passed
the Houe yesterday. have convinced the
members that there is indeed need OF
some such commission. Such an organ
ization would be able. Il was pointed out.
far better than is a committee 10 look
into the affairs OF such corporations as
are in the District
/ With the members Of the committee IN
favor Of such 4 measure, and with M
/ Payne friendly toward IT, there Is no
doubt that a bill Of this kind will be
l introduced in the near future. and there
/ is probability that Il may pass the House
/ this session.
l While some opposition might develop IN
the lower House. it IS entirely probable
that the greatest opposition would be in
4 the Senate. One or the chief difficulties
which might lie IN the way OF such legis-
lation in the House would be the re-
muneration 10 be paid 20 the members Of
such a commission.
Are Better Paid.
/ The members of the New York state
public utilities commission are paid bet
ter than any officer in the District Of
Columbia. but. Of course. there would not
I be so much work put upon such COM
missioners here as in New York. or espe-
cially as devolves on the commission
which looks after the city OF New York.
The commission. as members OF the
committee look upon IT, should be COM
/ posed Of experts. Experts who were really
worth employing, and who were put
above any possibility Of corruption. would
nave 10 De Wei paid They would be
compelled 70 understand the theoretical
and practical workings OF the large cor
/ porations of this city and their task would
not be an easy one.
One OF the first duties Of such a com
mission no doubt would be the ascer-
tanning Of the exact physical value Of thu
properties Of the many public-serviee
1 corporations.
! The charges that have been made
against the various corporations. the
water that IS exuding from every pore
OF some OF them. would all have TO be
accounted for before the commission
could really get down TO the business OF
regulation.
/ With so many members OF the commit
tee in favor Of such a law. and with
others in the House most certainly not
! opposed TO It. it seems quite safe 10 pre-.
/ dict that some bill directed az conserving
/ the interests Of the citizens OF Washing
ton will soon be introduced and will uIti-
Inately pass the House
! The members Of the House District
\ Committee who could be reached yester-
day and their views upon the enact
ment Of some law vesting supervision
of the public-service corporations in some
responsible body. either the Commits
sioncrs or a commission. are here given:
Poll OF Committee.