The Washington times., 1911-05-18
LNAY HEADS
-SIDESTEP PUBLIC
UTILITIES ISSUE
Decline TO Say If Companies
Will Oppose or Favor
Bill.
NORMENT SATISFIED
WITH PRESENT RULE
Belief Exists That Corporations
Will Accept Commission
If Provided.
Continued from First Page.)

and regulate the public utility corpora
tons Of Washington"
1T never has to my knowledbe. There
is no occasion to consider such a thing
The Interstate Commerce Commission has
control over the street railways of the
District, We are entirely satisfied with
that arrangement"
But the public demands a local COM
mission for the reason that the con-
troll by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission is effective. The commission
Is not organized for regulating street
railways in such small community as
this and its authority is extremely
limited. Furthermore, it has asked
Congress to relive it of this duty"
For Congress to Dictate.
-':f Congress decides to change the
system we will, of course. have to &C
cept the change"
Would you oppose the change %
Il don't care TO answer that question.
l don't think you have any right to
ask it. When We are called upon for
an opinion by a committee of Congress
we will give our opinion, but not be-
Senator Galinger says he belives
the street railways will not oppose
he believes will be provided at this
session He must have something tan
gible upon which to base his opinion"
of course, Senator Gallinger has the
right to any opinion he may form. and
he also has the right to express ii. l
don't know anything about his infor-
nation, purposes. or belief
Mr.. Norment, it looks very much as
if public service commission bill would
be ena cted at this session. 1t has been
reported the street, car companies will
not oppose It. If this is true, why not
say so frankly? Public opinion and
its reflection as evidenced by the an
noulced intentions of Senator CALM
ger and Chairman Johnson, of the
House District Committee. indicate that
a public service commission bill will he
passed this summer. Why doesn't the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
to gain some substantial public conf
dence by declaring for it?"
Opposition Not Expected.
i've already stated we are satisfied
with the present system. of regulation
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. l see no need of change. and 1
must decline to discuss this question
further
II spite of the refusal Of Mr.. Hamil-
ton ard Mr.. Norment to make definite
STATEMENTS regarding their position with
reference to a public service Conmis-
sion. IT is believed the chances for the
passage OF a bill at this session are
good: IT Is''beIievet serious opposition
frQm the street railway corporations
will not materlalize.
This is said to he especially true in
the case of the Capital Traction Com
pany: which is understood TO have de-
Cided to accept local commission II it
is established. This doesn't mean the
Capital will get out and advocate n
commission. as does the president Of the
Washington Gas Light Company. but
that no effort will be made to defeat a
commission bill.
1t is believed the res son for the re-
fusal- of the heads OF the two CON-
paries to talk now is a desire to re-
main. in position to demand concessions
in the details of the law. If the pres-
dents of the street car com panieS should
commit themselves to the establishment
Of a local commission. thev think their
position before the committees of Con-
q ess wculG: not be as strong as II they
opposed any kind Of a bill, all the time
with the reservation that they would &C
cept the best they could get. This is
believed TO be their real attitude.