The Washington times., 1910-11-26
DISTRICT HEADS
ON UTILITIES BOARD
CcOstinued from First Page.)

an opportunity TO formally put himself
on record in the matter. as he was no.
q member Of the board when the last
bill was introduced It is not expected
however. that his views will differ ma
teriaIIy from those OF the other two
Commissioners
Bill Is Drastic
The new bin would give more power
to the Commissioners than any similar
measure ever introduced IN Congress
While patterned on the New Jersey pub
lie service corporation law, Il is cOnsid-
erably more drastic II difIer5 from the
commissioners bill, introduce last win
ter, IN that It would give the Commits
sioners the power TO regulate the CAPT
taIfzation Of companies and also TO
grant franchises.
While Congress grants all franchises.
at present, should the proposed measure
he enacted into law, fraCcnlSe from
Congress would be worthless 10 the COM
many securing IL unless & secured a sim
lar one from the Commissioners.
In short, the new measure seeks 20
bring corporations entirely under the
control OF a commission, which SHAH
not only have the final say as 20 their
franchises and capitalization, but
shall have power to nix rates. deter
mine bond Issues ana lkAH-Ag
other features which are OF tai I'M
POrtance to the public
The general provisions for DRAWN 9
I'D the measure, which were settled at
yesterdays meeting OF the comm Z
tee representing the Federation OF
Citizens Associations are being gen
orally considered today as decided
compliment to the District Commits
sioners-
Suggestion Ignored
The resolution introduced in the
| federation nearly a year ago, calling
for the appointment of COMMITTEES
70 draw up a utilities bill. referred to
/ the creation Of a-separate body
This suggestion the committee ig-
nored. taking the ground thet it was
] a local matter. and should be put in
! the hands Of local officials.
| Il is understood upon reliable au-
! tboritv that several mem berS OF the
committee had been informed by mem
hers of Congress that they would sup
mort a bill calling for separate
commission. notwithstanding this
promised patronage, the committee
! determined that It would e best TO
! frame a measure which might eXpecl
| 20 have the support Of a majority OF
| the citizens Of the District
| 1t has been decided % incorporate
/ in the bill a clause providing Tor an
annual appropriation of not less than
| $3.50 600 20 be used by the Commits
4 sioners in determining public service
I questions There IS a proba biifty that
! this amount NAV be increased before
I the final draft Of the bill is completed
Makeup of Comm ttee-
The subcommittee which Is drawing
I'D the bill is composed of William Mex
/ Clayton, president Of the Federation Of
/ Citizens Associations; Allan Davis, OF
the Southeast Citizens Association. and
7 Rush Marshall. OF the Washington
/ chapter of the American Institute Of
/ Architects
/ The general committee is headed by
/ Glenn Brown. Of the Washington Soci-
/ ETY. Of Fine Arts.
! Mr.. CLAYTON today said that the bin
/ NAV be completed as early as the mid
! die of next week, after which K viii be
submitted to the general committee
At the meeting OF the general commit
/ tee a decision win be reached as to TIE
| number OF hearings that are 10 be held
! to which representatives Of all the in
creation Of the proposed commission
! viii be invited
| When the fun committee has adopted
the bill q special meeting of the Fed
Grafton viii be called to give il final ap-
! prevail Arrangements then viii be
/ made to have II introduced in Congress
I through the chaiTmen Of the Senate and
/ House District Committees
! The federation represents from >. 90
| to 4o.0G0 citizens Of the District, and the
measure, IS finally presented, will have
the direct Endorsement Of this number.