Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-15
For Public Utilities Commission

The promptness with which Senator
Gallinger has introduced bill creating
a public utilities commission for the Dis
trict encourages the hope that legislation
of this character will be enacted at the
present session. In general terms this
proposed measure. a s drawn by the chair
man of the Senate District committee.
meets the requirements OF the case
Two things urgently needed to pro-
vide d method of controlling the corpora
tons which serve the public with trans
portation. light. power and comnunica-
tions. and TO vest that authority in an
effective board or commission as closely
possible representative of local public
sentiment and subject in a reasona bic
degree to its Influence Experience has
shown that it is futile to depend upon
Congress for the correction of all the
conditions of the public utility services
which require REIMBURSEMENT There is
TO time to spare to District legislation in
such detail Congress has itself recog-
nized this fact by delegating a certain
measure Of it's power in this matter to the
interstate commerce commission. but that
body is too busy with cases of national
Importance TO give TO these local issues
the close and detailed attention which
the public interests demand. The device
by which the commerce commission has
delegated these powers TO a subordinate
commission of citizens works in ineffect-
i've and rather clumsy fashion with a
minimum of practical results. While
certain improvements and conditions have
been brought about under the existing
system of supervision. and perhaps more
will be accomplished in the future along
the same line. obviously more direct
method would be better IL applied with
equal fairness and intelligence.
In the local interest the Commissioners
should constitute the public utilities COM
mission. as the Gallinger bill proposes,
and the power thus created should not be
vested in an independent body Of outsid-
ers. who might have only the slightest
local connection and be animated by a
merely mild concern for the welfare of
the community. The important func-
tions of such commission are in their
essence legislative. Congress Has al
ready. in respect to the regulation OF
certain corporations. delegated a part Of
its exclusive power of local legislation.
The Commissioners have by statute
been intrusted with such delegated
powers of legislation in the framing Of
police and building regulations and other
iHuIlclpdl OTOindUCeS. Carrying out the
same policy, founded upon wisdom and a
fair recognition of the right of the citizens
TO a measure of sef-government. all
legislative powers in respect to the Dis
trict which Congress does not retain
should go either to the Commissioners or
10 somebody chosen by the local COM
munity, and thus even more representa-
tive of it than are the Commissioners
themselves. There being no present or
prospective mode of direct choice by the
people of body OF this character, it
logically remains for the Commissioners
10 be constituted commission for the
regulation of these matters affecting the
public welfare.
The details of the plan should not
cause any serious delay in the final con-
sideration Of the bill. An equitable
mode of ascertaining values and regulat-
ing rates and conditions Of service can
surely be worked out of the vaxious
projects of the same nature already
under way elsewhere. No difference of
opinion over small items should check
the enactment of the bill itself creating
the commission. Congress always pos
sesses the power of amendment and can
easily at some future time correct such
imperfectOns a. may by experience be
shown TO exist.