Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-05-06
TO BE 1.-THE PEOPLES COURTn

The Public Service Commission ORGANIZED
last Monday in the Office of Gov. Crothers.
IN the Union Trust Building, Baltimore. by
the election of Mr.. Emerson C. Harrington.
OF dorchester county, as secretary, and the
designation Of Attorney General Isaac Lobe
otaus as legal adviser. Mr.. Straus will
serve in this capacity until the election
oil a chief counsel and assistant counsel,
winch IT is not believed will be done until
the return of Mr.. W. W. Abel, from abroad.
Inc members of the commission present
were Chairman James M. Amber and Mr..
Philip D. Laird.
r1or to the meeting the two commits
sloners conferred with the Governor and
Attorney-General Straus, after which they
went into the room Of the State Roads Com
mission. The Governor took seat beside
the two commissioners. In calling the
meeting to order, Mr.. Amber called the
commission the peoples court" Noticing
that the doors were closed he asked that
they be opened. as court of publicity was
IN session. Mr.. J. Clarence Bowerman,
secretary to the State Roads Commission,
acted as secretary. Mr. Amber announced
that Mr.. Straus would serve as counsel to
the commission until the regular counsel
provided for in the law, had been elected.
Mr.. Straus will receive no compensation.
AS the author of the act, he consented to
assist the commission in putting It into
operation. although it will add much work
to bis present arduous labors as Attorney
General.
Mr.. Laird nominated Mr.. Harrington for
secretary. and he was unanimously elected.
The position pays $4,000 a year.
At the request Of Mr.. Amber, Mr.. Straus
made statement of the attitude of the
commission. He said:
Il am Interpreting and expressing the
views and positions of the Public Service
Commission in saying that the commission
regards itself distinctly as an agency of
the State and of the people of the State.
In the practical administration of its work
the commission will hold itself Immediately
close to the people. 1t wishes the people
OF Maryland and all other interests to
which the act has relation to realize dis
tinctly that the commission conceives itself
to be court, always and directly open for
the hearing of complaints, and with view
OF giving just and reasonable relief and re- |
dress in respect to all matters committed |
TO 1t under the law
mo ceremony, no formalities, further than |
those which are necessary to an orderly
procedure in the matter of its duties, will |
surround the work Of the commission. Its
doors will be always open. There will be |
no barriers between the people and the
commission, and it is the wish of the COM
mission that the people realize that the
commission is close to them.
THE commission will sit here at con-
venient hours for the reception of applica-
tons from whatsoever sources and will
give prompt, full and careful hearing to
all such applications as may be properly
submitted under the law
When the commission is not in session,
the secretary or his assistants, or other
agents of the commission, will be on duty
within the hours prescribed by the law for
the reception of applications
las the chairman, in announcing that
the commission was organized, stated, the
commission is the peoples court 1t is
court of justice in the interest of what is
right. fair and proper, and it wishes the
people and all other interests involved in
the administration of the act to fully ap-
preciate and realize that fact"
Mr.. Amber said that he trusted that the
position and duties of the commission as
defined by Mr.. Straus would be fully ap-
preciated.
The commission met on Wednesday last
in the State Offices in the Union Trust
building, Baltimore, to hear its first case.
The Western Maryland Railway Company
and the Georges Creek and Cumberland
Valley Railroad Company will ask the ap-
proval of the commission to complete the
extension and branch line of the Georges
Creek Company to Connellsville. The ex-
tension will form connections with the
Lake Erie Railroad at that point. About
10 miles of the road over which the COM
mission has jurisdiction, is in Maryland.
The companies will also ask for the approval
of the commission for the sale of stock to
complete the undertaking.
The commission hereafter will meet daily
from 10 A. M. to | P. M. II expects to
secure permanent offices in the Union
Trust Building