Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-03

clothe the Commissioners with all the
powers in District affairs now neld by
the interstate commerce commission,
with much judicial authority and with
some legislative power.
According to the proposed bill, the COM
mission would have final decision in all
tariff rates and schedules for public serv-
ice corporations. could command in
creased service from such corporations,
and, with the use of the subpoena and
the power Of placing witnesses under
oath, would have unimpeded access to all
books of all public service corporations
operating in the District, wholly or in
part.
Provisions of Measure.
The draft Of the bill reads. in part:
THE said commission is hereby given
the power to require every common car
rier, railroad, common street railroad, gas
company. electric light company, tele-
phone company. telegraph company, and
every public service corporation to pub
lish and to deliver to it all service sched-
ules and all tariffs and rates, whatso-
ever. and, after hearing, on it's own mo-
tiOn or upon complaint, to fix or amend
such schedules. tariffs and rates SO that
the same may be reasonable: no service
lawful which is contrary to law or the
order of said commission"
In giving to the commission the pow
erS OF the interstate commerce commits
sion the proviso is made that all orders.
rules and regulations made by the latter
body shall continue to be enforced until
ordered changed by the new commission.
Section 3 provides that no public serv
Ice corporation doing business in the
District shall Increase it's capital stock
e4as I<rv,r Il sw,s~
sent of the commission. 1t fultner COM
mands that, In addition to reports now
required by law. annual reports shall be
made to the commission by all corpora
tions under its jurisdiction.
Authority to Administer Oaths.
Section T.. in giving every member Of
the commission authority to administer
oaths, holds that any one swearing falsely
before it shall be guilty of perjury.
fine of not more than $1,000 or inn
prisonment for one. year. or both. is the
punishment provided for failure to obey
or violation of mandate Of the COM
mission.
Section 10 authorizes the commission to
employ counsel, experts and such other
employees as may be required by it.
The commission shall be required to
make an annual report to Congress, on
each year. Of all it's proceedings, with
such recommendations as it may deem
pertinent or necessary
The proposed commission is commanded
by the proposed bill to investigate the
causes of all accidents on any railroad Or
street railroad, or in connection with any
gas, electric light or telephone or otner
public service corporation, which result in
loss of life to persons or injury to prop
erty, and which, in it's judgment, shall
tions are required to report accidents hap
pening upon or to their property to the
commission.
Repairs and Improvements.
Section IA reads in part:
THAT If. in the judgment of the COM
mission, repairs or improvements to or
changes in any tracks. switches, termi-
nails or terminal facilities. etc, reason
ably to be made. or any additions should
be made thereto in order to promote
the security and convenience of the
public or employees, the commission, after
hearing. either on its own motion or on
complaint, may make and serve orders
such improvements. changes or
additions, and every public service cor
poration above mentioned is hereby re-
uuired and directed to make all repairs,
improvements, changes and additions re-
mission served upon it,
The proposed Jaw provides that II. In
the judgment of the commission, rail-
road or street railroad corporation does
not run trains or cars enough or possess
enough motive power to meet the de-
mands of the travelling public or does not
runs its trains or cars with SUFFICIENT ire
ouency, the commission may direct reme-
dial measures on the part of such cor
pOratiOn.
Commission Must Be Consulted.
The proposed law provides that when
ever an application or bill is pending be-
fore Congress where charter for a cor
poration proposes to operate wholly or
in part in the District, impressed with the
ity corporation, or for an amendment to
any existing charter Of a publicc service
corporation, it shall be the duty Of the
commission to inquire into the public
necessity or propriety of such amendment
and report its findings and conclusion
thereon to Congress.
II any person interested in obtaining
such charter or amendment shall refuse
or withhold information pertinent to the
inquiry and report, the matter shall be
fully reported to Congress.
BY section sixteen of the proposed law
the commission must first be consulted
before the granting of any franchise to
own or operate a public service corpora
tion, or before the transfer or lease OF
such a corporation. No such transaction
will be considered valid unless it has re-
ceived the 20. K" Of the commission.
Appeal from the decision of the COM
mission is provided for in the Supreme
Court Of the District of Columbia within
a period Of ten days after the handing
down Of such decisions. Further appeal
is provided both for the commission and
the aggrieved public service corporation
to the Court OF Appeals of the Dist let.
Il is provided. however, that no appeal,
unless the commission shall SO order,
shall operate to stay any order Of the
commission.
carry into effect the provisions of the
act. OF this amount one-haif is to come
from the revenues OF the District Of
Columbia and one-haH from moneys In
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
The appropriation is to be expendedlunde
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