Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-06
GIVES VIEWS At Meeting
Fears Politicians Would Seek APP
pcintments for Friends.
DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT
Federation of Citizens Associations
Favorable to Suggestion for
Public Service Commission.

seeking offices for their own constituents
were advanced last night by c. c. Lam
caster. in speaking of a proposed public
utilities commission at meeting of the
Federation of Citizens Associations a
the Chamber of Commerce rooms.
The federation believed the suggestion
favoring such a commission a good one.
and promised to consider it. committee
TO work out the details and to formu-
late proposed legislation will be appoint
ed Mr.. Lancaster. though firmly be-
lieving with the other members of the
federation present that commission to
regulate gas electric. railroad and other
public service corporations in the Dis
trict would be of benefit. warned the
meeting that the District should insist on
property owners of the District being ap-
pointed to positions on the commission.
"Otherwise.'' he explained, 1.-The whole
scheme would open wide the doors to ap-
pointments by senator's and representa-
tives of their own constituents. This
matter has been in the Capitol before.
Last year, when it was up before the
House committee on the District. 1t be.
came evident that Representative Samuel
W. Smith. the chairman. was much OPP
posed to the Commissioners of the Dis
trict being given duties of such COM
mission we propose. and at the same
tinle II was Known tildt d HldH ITOiii Oc-
trot. Mich. was being considered for q
ten-thousand-dollar position as member
of this commission, should it be created.
Would Get $4,000 Each.
THE members of this commission would
receive $1,000 year each. according to
plans already outlined. To house them and
furnish assistants and clerical help would
cost twenty thousand more. There would
he SJ00oo with which politicians could
give Offices to their friends. unless it were
assured in advance that District of CO.
lumbia citizens would he given prefer
ence. At the conference at the White
House today when this subject was
brought up. I might add President Taft
said that he was sure that Congress did
not want to increase the expenses of the
District
Discussion of public utilities commits
sion for the District was the principal
business of last nights meeting. and was
introduced by the president of the asso-
citation. William Mex. Clayton. After
outlining what public utilities commits
sion rs, he said:
1--WE read almost weekly of various cit
liens associations taking up some ques-
ton or problem regarding gas companies
power companies. railroad companies, and
the like In our small way we struggle
with these questions. and the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia are
problems. but they have little jurisdic-
ton. The District railway commission is
working hard over its Jurisdiction, but
that body is hampered.
"A public utilities commission would
take up these questions in a broader way
and go into them deeply. The ideal COM
mission would be composed OF men es-
pecially trained and fitted for these prob
lens They would know ever detail Of
the business of the corporations. They
would examine every detail of the CAPT.
talization bonding of corporations,
among other things. The commission
should not be considered hostile to cor
porations. Not for moment could any
one stand here ard say We advocated a
body that would be inimica! to the public
service. This is no attempt to attack
corporations IL is an attempt to get
into line with what other mouern mu-
inequalities are doing.
Car Fares for Scholars.
Perhaps the corporations are doing
exactly right. No one can dispute that
sort of statement. Yet I will introduce
one example of case wherein a public
service corporation might be of great
use. There is railroad company here
that built line at a cost Of $4,000 1t
is now trying to sell it for S2JO.OOO. 1t
is not selling the railroad at what IT cost
and a fair profit, but Is trying to sell
its franchise. which the people gave. 1t
is trying to sell that right to use the
streets at profit. I think the public
utilities commission could look into that
with profit to the people.
The question of twO-cent fares for
school children could be studied by the
commission. We do not know the right
and wrong of that proposition at all.
All these complaints about closed cars
could be investigated by the commits
sion.
And there is another big question
that the big people would like to have
settled. and that is whether we are
paying too much for telephone rates in
the District Whether the Commission
ers of the District should form the
commission is a question to be de-
cided'
In answer to this last question 4. W.
Oyster of the Petworth Citizens Asso-
citation said that the Commissioners
had so little time to give to public
possible for them to take up the in
tricate matters that would fall to the
lot of public service commission.
Elected to Federation.
Thomas Grant and Henry s. Clark
son. representing the Piney Branch
Citizens Association. were elected men,
bers OF the federation. Allan Davis re-
ported for the membership committee
that three associations were opposed to
the idea of federation of citizens as
sociations. but that all the others were
friendly to it,
The federation Endorsed the idea ex-
pressed in the teachers retirement fund
bill and the proposed bill for the extern
sion of Fairgrounds around schools These
matters were introduced by Mr. Davis.
lie also asked the confederation to indorse
the request OF the Southeast Citizens AS
ISOLATION that the Anacostia channel be
made twentyfOur feet deep, instead of
twenty. as is proposed in the reclamation
OF the flats project
The officers of the federation were re-
elected for the coming year. They are
William Mex. Clayton. president: Glenn
Brown. vice president: Eugene T.. Thomp-
son, secretary. and w. H. Richardson,
treasurer.
Those present last evening were Charles
X. Burr. Anacostia Citizens Association:
George Francis Williams, Brentwood
Citizens Association; William Mex Clay
ton. Brightwood Park Citizens Assoc a.
ton: G.. G. Lancaster. Citizens North.
west Suburban Associations; James NJ.
Wood. East End Suburban Citizens AS.
ISOLATION: ID. A. Edwards, Lincoln Park
Citizens Association: l.. H. Patterson.
Northeast Suburban Citizens Associa.
ton: j. j. McGrath. Park View Citizens
Association Allan Davis, Southeast
Washington Citizens Association; James
w. Dyer. Takoma Park Citizens Asso-
citation: William y. Cromwell, Petworth
Citizens Association: J. Rush Marshall
American Institute OF Architects: Glenn
4. H. -