Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-08
UTILITIES BILL UP.
Ga|Iinger in Conference on Inn
portant Measure.
DISCUSSION LASTS HOURS
Maj. Judson and George E. Hamil-
ton Consulted.
EXPECTED TO BECOME LAW
Gives District Commissioners Super
vision of Public Service Cor
porations.
DISCUSSION LASTS HOURS
EXPECTED TO BECOME LAW

The details Of the public utilities bill
for the District Of Columbia, which Sen
ator Gallinger has been redrafting since
his return to Washington for this session
of Congress, are being thrashed over at
a conference held in Mr.. Gallingers Of
fee today.
Those present at tho conference besides
the chairman Of the Senate District COM
mittee included Commissioner Judson and
George E Hamilton, president Of the
Capital Traction Company.
The discussion began at 10 o'clock this
morning and continued we'll into the aft
ernoon. 1t is understood that q revised
draft Of the public utilities bill was placed
in the hands Of those present and that q
general discussion of It's features and, In
some cases, its wording, was INDUCED in.
The results Of the conference are expect
ed to be seen when Mr. Gallinger pre-
probably will be early next week.
Seeks Fair Measure.
In his desire to have the best bill pos
sible. one that would come nearest to
meeting the ideas of those most interested
in the legislation. the Commissioners, who
are to compose the public utilities COM
mission, and the officials of tie street
railways. who are chiefly affected by the
measure, Senator Gallinger called the
meeting for today. And it was the COM
ment Of those who knew of the gathering
that the bill which Senator Gallinger will
present will have a greater chance Of
final acceptance by those affected than
any other.
The bill which is proposed is a compre-
hensive measure covering every phase
of public utility operation IN the District
and no little time was necessary to go
over all of it's features.
Divide on Personnel.
Senator Gallinger has announced his
belief that the District Commissioners
should compose the public utility COM
mission for the District. But there are
other senators, some who are members
of the committee, who are inclined to
think that the commission should be
made up of others, Independent Of the
District government.
There is an indication that an effort will
be made to create a separate commission,
but no definite opposition to that feature
OF the Gallinger bill has developed as yet.
Senator La Toilette has a bill before the
committee proposing a separate commits
sion. Senator Pomerene Of Ohio, who is
member of the District committee, is
strongly in favor Of the creation of a
public utilities commission, but he is still
undecided whether it should be made up
OF the commissioners or of others.
He believes the questions that Will come
before the commission will require expert
consideration and much study, and It is
for that neason he is considering whether
or not such duties should be imposed
upon the heads. OF the District govern
ment.
1T is astounding to me-" he said today,
that there has been no public utilities
commission In the District. That means
of dealing with the big questions that
come up in connection with the regulation
of the public utilities Is the adopted sys-
tenn in most places in this country and
there ought by all means to be a COM
mission in the District"
Senator Pomerene thinks the universal
transfer question can best be dealt with
by leaving it TO the study and order Of
a commission.