The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-09
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Another important step toward a
local public service commission has
been taken. Senator Gallinger, who an
nounced through The Times nearly a
month ago that he favored the estab-
lishment of a commission, and was
then engaged in drafting a bill, has
completed his labors and has offered
his proposed law for the consideration
of the Senate District Committee and
the Senate. He has declared his inten-
ton to work for the passage of bill
at this session, and says he believes
a law will be enacted.
The outlook for the creation of a
commission, either at this session or
early in the next, is exceedingly good.
1t is practically certain bill will pass
the House. The subcommittee on judi
ciary of the House District Committee
is now at work on a bill, using the
La Toilette bill Rs a foundation and
comforting with the District Commits
sioners and the Corporation Counsel in
the preparation of its measure. The
House has passed the Oldfield resolu
ton, authorizing the District Com
mittee or any of its subcommittee to
conduct a thorough investigation of
local public service companies, which
means that a thorough investigation
will be undertaken in the near future.
With the information thus obtained,
with the La Toilette bill, which is known
to be an excellent measure, and with
the Gallinger bill before it, the judi
ciary committee of the House commit
tee may probably be depended upon to
bring out a bill that will be the last
word in control and regulation of pubic
utilities.
Over on the Senate side the situation
is also encouraging. Senator Gallinger
has declared for a commission in I'M
qualified terms, and has himself intro
duced a bill to create one. His COM
mittee has the La Toilette bill before
it, and may also hold hearings for the
purpose of bringing cut the information
upon which the act should be based.
New, progressive blood has been in
stilled into the Senate District Com
mittee by the addition of Senators
Works and Kenyon, Republicans, and
Pomerene and Lea, Democrats. These
four are understood to be determined to
have the committee report bill that
will clothe the commission with ample
authority for adequate control and eff
fective regulation of the public service
With the chairman also in
favor of the creation of commission,
a good measure should come from the
Senate as well as from the House wing
of the Capitol.
Added force is given the chances for
the passage of a commission bill by
the attitude of the gas company and
the telephone company, whose chief
executive officers have lined up in favor
of the creation of commission. This
leaves only the street railway COM
panies on the outside.
A month ago The Washington Times
to ascertain what would be
the attitude of the street railways to-
ward service commission, but the
presidents of these corporations de-
clined to discuss the question. 1t is
now up to them to cut bait, fish, or
get out of the boat. The day when a
public service commission will be es-
tablished in the District of Columbia
S rapidly approaching. Are they big
enough and broad enough to anticipate
t and hasten it, or will they continue
heir former policy of blind opposition
% everything in the public interest
merely because it is in the public in
crest?