The Washington times., 1911-12-15
NOW FOR A PUBLIC UTILITIES
BILL.

1t is just about seven years since
The Times opened its campaign to get
a proper commission created for the
regulation of the municipal service
facilities of Washington. In that time
many measures have been drafted, in
troduced, pigeonholed after some furry
of effort in their behalf, and finally
asphyxiated because the corporations
that would be affected did not want to
be regulated.
That was not the sole reason, of
course. The other was that Congress
had rather vague notions of what this
public utilities commission business
was all about, and too many othef
things to do to take much time in
forming itself about details of city ad
ministration in Washington.
But the time is at hand when there
is likely to be legislation. There are
two bills before the Senate committee,
either of which affords an excellent
basis from which to develop measure.
One is by Senator La Toilette, the
other by Senator Gallinger.
In behalf of the people of Washing
ton, it is fair to suggest at this time
that passage of a measure of this kind
will not mean immediate entrance into
a millennial era of effective regulation.
Far from it. 1t will take years of
court proceedings and decision from the
Supreme Court of the United States to
make any vigorous, basic, useful regu-
lations effective.
For example, the president of one of
the street railway systems has def
nitely served notice on the municipal
authorities that if any universal
transfer legislation is passed, it will
be fought to the last limit of opposi-
tion in the courts. Do citizens and
Congress members realize what that
means?
1t means that if public utilities
law be enacted this session, and if the
commission Immediately adopts regu.
lations and orders universal transfers
then there will be an injunction, a
long trial of the merits, and probably
permanent injunction against the
operation of the order. That will oc.
cupy two years, at the inside, in the
Supreme Court of the District, which il
far behind it's schedule of business.
Then must come another delay
while the case is carried to the
Court of Appeals of the District; and
no matter how it is decided there, an.
other appeal must carry it to the
Supreme Court of the United States
The lawyers familiar with such pro.
cedures declare that in the conditions
existing here, four years is the short
est time in which such a case car
finally get the conclusive decision from
the court of last resort.
Give q year for the passage Of the
public utilities act and the formula.
tion and PRONUNCIATION of the commits,
sion's orders, and a total of five years
of delay is accounted for. And that
assumes rather a satisfactory progress
in the courts.
Likewise as to an order of such @
commission reducing the price of gas
or the rental of telephones. Every re-
source of legal delay and opposition
will be invoked. No case of this sort
has chance of final decision within
four years.
We may, then, get public utilitie.
commission; but actual, operative re
lief for the people of Washington is 4
long way off, even after that has beer
accomplished.
The moral is that Congress ought, il
all fairness and goodness of purpose
to suffer no more delays in doing it,
part. The measure ought to be takel
up and passed at the present session
for it's passage will after all be onl,
the beginning of the struggle for rea
control and useful results.