Evening star., 1911-06-06
UTILITIES IN DANGER
Advocates Of. Public Commits
-
sion DepIore House Action.
JE0PARDIZES BILL,'TIS SAID
Resolution Calling for Probe of Dis.
trict Corporations Frowned Upon
at This Time.

Advocates of the plan for the estab-
lishment of a public utilities commission
In the District Of Columbia are upset
over the resolution favorably reported by
the House District committee yesterday
calling for an investigation of District
affairs and OF the conduct Of public util-
ity corporations doing business in the
District.
The result Of the investigation, it is
declared. will be to delay action by Con-
gress on the measures now pending be-
fore it and others which are shortly to
be introduced for the creation Of pub
lie utilities commission
The decision of the House commit
tee already gives promise OF completely
rearrang1ng the program of the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations, that
body having determined to ask for a
hearing on one Of the utility bills.
1t was said today by officials Of the
federation that a meeting OF the as
sociation probably will be called with
out delay in order to ascertain If there
is any way by which the prospective
delay in the consideration Of the
utility commission measures may be
avoided.
Federation Author of Bill.
The federation has made its fight for
the establishment of such commission,
the principal work undertaken by the
affiliated body since its organization. and
is the author of the public utilities bill
which was introduced by Representative
Smith. 1t had planned to urge upon
Congress this session favorable action
upon one of the bills. The action of the
House committee came as complete
surprise. and is regarded by the fedora
tion officials being more than likely
to delay matters for some time.
According to views expressed this
morning. several of the federation's heads
regard the proposed duties of the investi-
eating committee as being only a dupli-
cation of the work that would be done
in the natural course of events by
public utilities commission. While not
objecting to an investigation of the af-
fairs of the District. they take the po-
included an investigation of corporations
doing business in the District. since this
feature is provided for in the utilities
measures pending.
The federation. it was stated may de-
eide to urge upon the investigating COM
mittee that that body, after making
sufficient investigation to ascertain that
there is need of public utilities COM
mission, combine it's report with a rec
ommendation that a utilities measure be
enacted.
Would Prevent Delay.
Just what courses of procedure will be
suggested at the special meeting may
only be speculated upon. but it is GER
tain that the federation will exhaust
every means in an effort to prevent any
| extended delay by Congress in acting on
the utilities commission bills.
Tho nropocod inyeSti1afiou into the af-
| fairs Of the District, and especially of the
| operations and methods of the depart
ments of assessments and collecting OF
| taxes, is welcomed by District oh1cials.
President Cuno H. Cudolph Of the
board Of Commissioners today said that
every cooperation would be. given the
| members OF the congressional committee.
| q statement that was concurred in by the
heads OF all the departments Of the Dis
| trict government that are likely to come
/ within the Scone of the Investigation.