Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-30
TAKES UP OFFICIAL DUTIES
Is Doubtful of Securing Legislation
for the District.
LACK OF TIME GIVEN AS CAUSE
Advocates the Passage of Law Great
ing Public Utilities Commission.
Discusses Proposed Merger.

Senator Jacob II. Gallinger, the veteran
chairman of the Senate District commit
tee and recognized friend of the National
Capital. arrived in Washington from his
New Hampshire home last night and
went to his office in the Capitol this
afternoon to take up his work as ma
tional legislator. He looks ten years
younger. his friends say. than he did
when he left here at the conclusion OF
last summers long-drawn-out session.
and he reported himself as feeling tip
top
Owing to the need for an absolute rest
after the labOrs of nine months in WASH
ngton the senator did not keep in as
lose touch with District affairs as ne
usually does during recesses of Congress.
There had come to him, however, some
reports concerning the proposed merger
of the public utilities In the District OF
Columbia-the ira ton, gas and electric
power companieS-and he asked his CALI
ers during the day many questions to de-
termine how far the merger plans had
gone and what was proposed.
Favors Utilities Commission.
The creation of a public utilities COM
mission as proposed in the bill which the
Senate passed last session is the proper
solution of the controversy over the
merger" Senator Galiinger commented.
L see no occasion for an investigation by
Congress into the plans and extent Of the
proposed merger company. That is Tor
the public utilities commission to do and
the House ought to pass the bill.
There has been a lot Of criticism that
the Senate has been slow in d.aiing with
such matters. In reply / shall point tG
the public utilities bill and the universa
transfers bill, both Of which have beer
passed by the Senate and are now pend.
| ing before the House committee. Both OF
the bills ought to be passed.
Senator GallAnger said he had heard o.
| the plans to merge the public utilities o.
| the District during a conversation witt
w. B. Hibbs, one Of the promoters. las
summer.
He talked of thirty millions as If II
were only a few do.lars," commented tht
senator. THE scheme seemed to be such
| monster one and the amount OF money
involved so immense that 1 told him 4
| dazzled me-"
Senator Gallinger does not expect much
Distr ct legislation in the Senate at this
session.
II don't see how we will have time, >
he remarked. I'VE have this Archibald
| trial; there are thirteen counts and l un'
to be examined. With that and the sup
ply bills to be passed, don't think there
will be much time for controversial legts
| lation. I don't know that there are any
| Sucn matters TeldllIlS 10 lLS OAStilSl ~
| be taken up in the Senate this winter
OF course. I suppose there will be some
| little bills to be considered"
Anticipates Fun in Next Congress.
The senator's eyes twinkled a minute
later. as he continued:
I'VE are going to have some fun in the
Senate In the next Congress. with q
| democrat in the White House. / take
the situation philosophically, as try te
| take everything.
But do you know Wilson is going Il
have a hard row to hoe. There Is G
period Of sixteen years of hunger to bt
satisfied. Wilson is a fine fellow. but hs
| is theorist, and his days are not going
! to be ones of ease
There is story around here that you
are to retire at the end of your presen,
term" the interviewer suggested to Mr.
Gallinger.
There is no authority for such state.
ment,' quickly replied the senator. and
there was a finaNty about the way he
| said it.
When he reached his Office he found a
multitude of District affairs and DiStric,
| interests ready for consideration. Several
residents of the National Capital were or
hand to have the first word with the
| chairman of the Districts board OF alder.
men in the Senate