Evening star., 1911-06-08
EXHAUSTIVE TREATMENT
OF THE ENTIRE SUBJECT
Measure Drafted With Assistance of
Corporation Counsel.
CONTAINS HUNDRED SECTIONS
Adequate Service and Facilities
Called for at Reasonable Rates.
Supervision of Financial
Operations.

A public utilities commission for the
District OF Columbia, consisting OF the
District Commissioners. is provided for in
bill introduced In the Senate this after
noon by Senator Gallinger. chairman OF
the Senate District committee. The bill
was referred to the District committee.
Senator Gallinger's bill gives to the
commission full powers to supervise and
regulate the operations of all public utili-
ties In the District OF Columbia, including
the gas companies, street railways tele-
phone companies. electric light and power
companies. storage company and telegraph
company and every other common carrier.
Ample fines are provided to compel the
obedience Of the public utilities to the de-
cisions and orders Of tie commission and
to prevent determinations and other vio-
lations Of the proposed law.
The measure has been prepared by
Senator Gallinger after much careful
study of the question I'm conjunction with
the corporation counsel 1t contains 100
sections and goes thoroughly into every
detail connected with the supervision and
regulation Of public utilities and may be
considered model law OF its kind.
After several pages of explanation as
to just what is meant by the term pub
lie utility the bill states:
Service and Charges.
Every public utility doing business
within the District OF Columbia fs re-
quired to furnish reasonably adequate
service and facilities. The charge made
by any such public utility for any facil-
! ity or services furnished shall be reason
able. just and non-discriminatory Every
unreasonable or discriminatory charge
&c. - g.
by declared unlawful. Every inadequate.
inefficient or unsafe facility or service
furnished by any public utility is pro-
hibited and declaEed 70 be unlawful"
The bin provides that every public util-
ity duly authorized by Congress to do
business in the District. having tracks
| conduits. wires etc. must, for q reason
able compensation. permit the use OF its
public utility when public convenience
and necessity require such use.
Section Of the measure states:
THE commission shall have the power,
after hearing and notice by order In
writing. to require and compel every
public utility TO comply with the laws
of the United States, and any municipal
ordinance or regulation relating thereto.
thereby imposed or by the provisions OF
its own charter. If any charter has or
shall be granted it,.
1t is provided. however. that nothing
ity from any punishment or order OF any
court now having power to impose such
punishment or order.
The bin provides that whenever any
public utility shall propose any change in
any law relating directly or indirectly TO
the property or operation of any public
| utility the proposed change shall first be
| submitted to the commission.
Valuation Of Utilities.
1t also provides that the commission
shall ascertain as nearly as practicable
| the amount of money expended In the
| construction and equipment OF every pub
| lie utility. including the amount of money
| expended to procure any right OF way.
The commission is directed to value all
| the property of public utility within the
District actually used and useful for the
convenience of the public at a fair value
thereof at the time OF said valuation. The
commission may at any time after three
years, from any such valuation make
revaluation of the property.
1t Is provided that no public utility
shall keep any other books. accounts. pa
pers or records OF the business transact
ed than those prescribed or approved by
the commission. Each public utility shall
have an office within the District, In
which IL shall keep all such books. ac-
counts etc, as shall be required by the
commission. No books or accounts re-
within the District shall be at any time
removed from the District except upon
conditions prescribed by the commission.
The commission shall provide for the
examination and audit of all accounts
and all items shall be allocated to the ac-
counts In the manner prescribed by the
commission.
Every public utility shall carry a proper
| and adequate depreciation account. when
ever the commission, after investigation.
| shall determine that such a depreciation
account can be reasonably required.
The commission shall provide for the
examination and testing of any or all ap-
pliances used for the measuring of any
product or service Of a public utility.
Submission of Schedules.
Every public utility shall file with the
commission, within a time to he fixed by
the commission, schedules. which shall
be open to public inspection. showing all
rates. tolls and charges which 1t has es-
tablished. .s.t
A COPY of so much OF the schedules a.
the commission shall deem necessary for
the use of the public shall be printed In
plain type and kept on file In every sta
tion and Office.
No change shall thereafter be made In
any schedule. including schedules OF joint
rates. except upon ten days notice to the
commission.
1t shall be unlawful for any public util-
ity to charge or receive a greater or lese
compensation for any service performed
by II within the District or for any serv.
Ice In connection Herewith than is epecl.
fed within such printed schedules.
Inspection Of Utilities.
The commission. for the purpose o.
making any investigation with regard to
any public utility, shall have power to ap-
point an agent, whose duties shall be pre-
scribed by the commission.
Each OF the commissioners ana every
agent provided for for the purposes mon
toned in this act shall have power to ed-
minister oaths. certify to onctal cots.
issue subpoenas compel the attendance Of
witnesses and production OF books and
other documents.
The power to create liens on corporate
property by public utilities In the Dis.
trict Of Columbia IL declared to b Q spe-
ctal privilege. the right Of supervision,