The Washington herald., 1911-06-09
Proposed Law Is Presented
to the Senate.
CONSIDERED FAIR TO ALL
Bill Vests I'm Body Made Up OF Dis
trict Commissioners All Powers
Exercised by Interstate Commerce
COmmissiOn-Prepa by District
Chairman-PrOvIsIOn of Bill.

duced a bill constituting the Commis-
sioners a public utilities commission,
and clothing that commission with all
the authority now vested in the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. The bill
gives the commission full powers to
supervise and regulate the operations
of all public utility corporations in the
District, including the gas companies,
street railways, telephone companies,
III electric light and power companies,
storage companies, and telegraph com
panies, and all other common carriers.
It provides fines to compel obedience
to the decisions and orders of the COM
mission. and to prevent discrimina-
tions and other violations Of the pro-
posed law.
Referred to Committee.
The bill was referred to the District
Committee whence 1t will be sent to
the Commissioners for consideration
and report. Upon being returned by
the Commissioners 1t will be placed in
the hands OF the subcommittee on pub
lie utilities, composed of Senators OIL
yer, chairman; Gallinger, Kenyon, Mar
tin, and Paynter. It is not considered
probable that a vote OF the Senate Will
be reached this session, as some time
the subcommittee. Every effort viii
be put forth by Senator Gallinger and
4 the committee however, to isure speedy
and favorable action, whether at this
/ session or next.
The measure was prepared by Sena-
| tor GaIIinger himself with the as
] sistance of the corporation counsel, ana
Is considered eminently fair to both con-
sumner and public utility company. 1t
Is exhaustive in scope and intended to
1 prevent any misunderstanding or conflict
\ OF authority or jurisdiction. Mr.. Gal
linger has given much careful study to
the subject. and the proposed law Is
! considered a model OF its kind
Following are some of the provisions
| 6nd powers contained in the bill:
| Provisions of Bill.
| Every public utility must furnish
reasonably adequate service and IA
cilities" at reasonable and nondiscrim-
| inatory rates.
Every public utility having tracks,
| conduits, subways. poles, wires,
switchboards, exchanges, works, or
| other equipment shall, for a reason
able compensation, permit the use Of
the same by any other public utility
whenever public convenience requires
| such use.
| Section Of the measure states:
Il The commission shall have the
i power, after hearing and notice by
order in writing, to require and COM
| pei every public utility to comply
with the laws Of the United States,
| and any municipal ordinance or regu-
lation relating thereto, and to con-
form 10 the duties upon it thereby
imposed or by the provisions Of its
own charter, If any charter has or
shall be granted it
Before Congress will consider any
change in any law proposed by a public
utility commission, relating to the di-
] rection or operation of any public util-
ity, such proposed change must be first
! presented to and approved by the COM
| mission.
/ The commission must obtain and
| publish in its annual report to Con-
/ gress the valuation, net and gross re-
| ceipts, money expended in construction
and equipment, and all matters pertain
/ ing to the financial status of every pub
lie utility corporation. Revaluations may
| be made at three-year intervals.
4 All books and papers of all public
utilities shall be open to and available
| for the commission on demand. The
commission shall prescribe the forms Of
all books, accounts, and papers kept,
ana no puDllC uIlllly Sndlt Keep any
| other books, accounts, and papers of
the business transacted than those ap-
proved by the commission
Each public utility doing business, in
whole or in part, in the District must
have an office here and keep all such
records in that Office. Such records not
to be removed from the city except
with the permission Of the commission.
Must File Schedules.
Every public utility shall file with
the commission schedules which shall
be open to the public. The rates and
tolls of such schedules shall not be
greater than now exist. Such rates
shall not be changed without the con-
sent or direction OF the commission.
Each Of the commissioners or any agent
duly authorized by the commission shall
have the power to administer oaths, GER
tify to official acts, issue subpoenas COM
pei the attendance of witnesses, the pro-
duction OF books, accounts, papers, rec
ords, documents, and testimony. In case
of disobedience on the part of any perosn
or persons to comply with any order of
the commission or any commissioner or
q subpoena, or on the refusal of any wit
ness to testify to any matter regarding
which he may be lawfully interrogated
before the commission or its agent, Il
shall be the duty of the Supreme Court
of the District Of Columbia or judge
thereof. on application of a commissioner
to compel obedience for attachment pro-
ceedings for contempt as is the case Of
disobedience Of the requirements Of a
subpoena issued from such court or a
refusal to testify therein.
No public utility shall issue, after the
passage OF the bin. any stock. stock GER
tificates, bonds, mortgages, or any other
evidences Of Indebtedness payable In more
than one year except with the permis-
sion OF the commission.
Any public utility being dissatisfied
with any orders of the commission may
appeal 10 the Supreme Court OF the Dis
trict
The bill Is. In many respects, identical
with the one prepared BY the Federation
Of Citizens Associations last fall, and
| introduced In the House.
FEDERALs GET PERMIT.