Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-18
Regulating Corporations.

The project of a commission to regu-
late the local public service companies,
long discussed. approved by President
Taft in his latest regular message to
Congress. is now under active consdera-
ton, with some prospects of enactment
The Star has favored the creation of
such a commission and has advocated
comforting the powers Of such board
upon the District Commissioners.
This legislation is in effect temporary
delegation of the exclusive power of Con-
gress as the Districts legislature in rela-
ton to a certain class OF municipal regu-
Iations 1t is on the same basis as the
power delegated TO the Commissioners TO
make police and building regulations.
The Stars conviction is that this linn
tied legislative power should not go out
of Congress to any other body or person
except the board of Commissioners. which.
under the law prescribing the qualifica-
lions of civilian Commissioners. is sup
posed to represent approximately local
sentiment. The theory is that the two
civilian Commissioners, appointed under
he law from the people of the District
aud being a majority of the board, consti-
ute an approximately representative leg
slative body for the enactment of mu-
nicipal ordinances and regulations The
Engineer Commissioner is primarily an
expert professional adviser in the execu-
ion of the engineering works OF the mu-
licipafity. In the beginning the engineer
officer performing this function was not
member of the board Of Commissioners.
Ordinarily the Washington representa-
tives on the board of Commissioners as
a quasi-legislative body may be relied
upon in the public interest TO control it.
Viewed in this light the board of
commissioners can far more safely be
ntrusted with this additional limited
power of municipal legislation than
any new body, which will have not
wen an indirect representative relation
% this community to guarantee
thoughtful and sympathetic considera-
Ion Of local grievances, and which
nay easily be imagined as becoming an
asylum for political lame ducks or an
experimental laboratory in political
economy for cranky theorists.
Whether a public service corporation
,avors or opposes a commission always
has been and always will be decided by
t. calculation of the comparative risks
.un ut a particular time and under ex-
alton by Congress and through regu-
alton by a public service commission.
Congressional regulation is marked by
I series of violent attacks and investiga-
lions, sometimes resulting in wholesome
and effective legislation, and sometimes in
aasty and inconsiderate action in the sup
posed public interest; but more often end
ng through congressional inertia in in
action and failure of even a moderate and
reasonable redress Of local grievances.
1t is doubtless better both for the COM
nunity and the local corporations that
his regulation shall be applied vigorous
y. considerably and systematically by
body representing the local community,
presumably we'll informed and public
spirited, the majority of whose members
nave already been subjected to micro
,copie inspection and have run the CANT
ct of local public opinion as to their
merits. prior to appointment as civilian
Commissioners.