The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-28

Urging public service commission for
the District. the reclamation OF Anaeostia
Flats. and public park extending from
Eastern Branch to Rock Creek Park,
Representative Samuel ". Smith. chair
man Of the House District Committee.
delivered a graphic speech before tbs
Brightwood Park Citizens Association
last night
President William McClayton introduced
Mr.. Smith. who spoke at length on the
advisability Of a public service commits
sion for the District, pointing out that
there were corporations in Washington
known as the gas company, the tele-
phone company, the electric light com
pany, and the street car company.
Corporations Need Attention.
And II they are here" he said. why
should they not be guarded and rsgu-
lated? They are regulated throughout
the country, and should be given atten-
ton here. There is only one way pos
sible 10 ascertain il the companies are
not conducting their affairs properly,
and that is by appointing a public serv-
ice commission 10 examine carefully into
the methods Of these concerns. This
| commission should be composed OF men
out OF town. I advocate this scheme be-
| cause 1t would best protect the interests
Of the District"
At this point c. c. Lancaster asked
/ why the men should be nOnresidents OF
the District. 1Ir. Smith replied that if
the men were affiliated IN any way with
| the city It would make matters embaT-
RAISING for them.
For We all know he continued, that
If one Of the Commissioners were n re-
port fayorably on the present rate OF
gas. sono br his neighboas would accuse
him Of having stock in the company"
The speaker declared Re knew CT no
| ether city in the United States where six
car tickets could be bought for q quarter.
In Cleveland" he continued. g de-
cision has just been handed down that the
rate should be cents. have been told
the cost Of underground service is more
than three times as expensive as over
/ head, and II the decision Of the court OF
! Cleveland be correct. then why is cents
where the cost Of installation is so ex-
pensive? But these are not questions for
Us 10 decide, but should have the careful
attention Of experts, who can investigate
the matter thoroughly and present to the
I ! Commissioners g report on which they
can act inteIligently. At the last session
Of Congress. when the gas matter was up
before my committee. there was two ex-
perts who appeared before us. One was
given almost an hour and the other thir-
ty-fve minutes"
After Mr.. Smith had finished with the
gas company and the telephone com
pany. he arraigned the Western Union
Telegraph Company as the cause Of one
OF the greatest curses the country tOler-
ates. He declared that no greater bless
ing ever came 20 the country than when
Congress abolished railroad passes, and
that he would like TO see the Western
Union taken IN hand. He advocated the
government ownership Of telegraphs and
the adoption Of the telepost.
Advises Government Ownership.
7 do not see why the government is
permitted TO carry our letters and not
our important messages, which must go
over the wires" he declared.
When the Michigan legislator took up
the subject he turned the hall into a
classroom. and explained every feature
Of the system, stating messages could
be sent clear across the continent for
half a cent a word.
Mr. Smith read a bill to be introduced
in the House providing for q parking
scheme that viii eventually mean one
continuous park from Rock Greek to the
District line on the east.
A short address was made by Louis P.
Shoemaker, president of the BrightwoOd
Park Citizens Association, in which he
congratulated Mr. Smith upon his ad-
dress. Short talks were made by William
B. Cox, Judge Bundy, President Crom-
we'll, of the Petworth Citizens Associa-
ton, and President Edwards. Of the
Lincoln Park Association.