The Washington herald., 1912-03-12
.RO1HERME[ READY
FOR GAS inquiry
Will Force Probe if Con-
gress Does Not Act on
Utilities Bill.
FEELS NEED OF ACTION

Unless Congress shows a disposition
to. press the utilities bill. which gives
the Commissioners control over the
public service corporations of the
District. Representative Rothermel.
Of Pennsylvania. will disregard previ-
Gus arrangements and demand a hear
the purchase of the Washington and
Georgetown gasIight companies.
For over a month Representative
Rothermel. at the instance of the Dis
trict Commissioners and others, has
been Withholding this investigation
because he believed that the control
given a public utilities commission
would make the enactment of his meas
ures unnecessary.
Delay Causes Action.
The Pennsylvania Congressman made
public his determination yesterday aft
ernoon. Since the Senate District Com
mittee has developed its wrangle over
the respective merits OF the Gallinger
bill and the Works amendment. and
the House District Committee has
taken no action on the public utilities
bill prepared by Representative Old
nel0 NWnlcn was Dy OcndlOT
Works as his amendment to the Gal
Iinger bnD Representative Rothermel
is convinced that his measures should
be considered. and consequently will
press them.
1T is the duty OF Congress-" said Mr..
Rothermel yesterday. ito give the Dis
trict a control over the big public serv-
ice corporations. This is especially
true of the two gas companies which
represent nothing more or less than
monopoly. II the management of
these concerns by the municipal gov
ernment cannot come through one of
the utilities bills. then I believe the
next step should be the purchase by the
government of the two gas companies
at their physical valuation"
Committee Members Approve.
'It is not my desire to urge government
ownership. II fair competition exists
there is no reason for the step propose.
But where properties worth about 5000
90 are capitalized to twice that amount
(this being the assertion OF some re-
garding the gas companIes) there Is need
OF investigation and a strict form OF
control"
Representative Rothermers stand yes
terday met with the approval OF other
members of the District Committee. The
bills regarding an investigation Of the two
gas companies with a view to their pur-
chase by the Federal government have
been praised by both Republicans and
Democrats.
Although Representative Rothermel has
accumulated considerable information.
he is reluctant TO push his inquiry
into the workings OF the gas companies.
When the public utilities bill was taken
up by the Senate, favorabiy reported from
committee. and scheduled for passage by
the Upper House, Mr.. Rothermel let the
bills introduced by himself temporarily
drop.
Needed CommIssIOners' Advice.
He stated that the sentiment Of the
Commissioners was that the bills should
not be pushed while the public utilities
bill was under consideration.
In the District Committee Offices yes
terday 1t was said that the Oldfeld bill
would be taken up at the meeting next
Friday. There is, however. a hearing
scheduled for that day on the bill regu-
District. This was arranged two weeks
ago by Representative Berger and prob
ably will have precedence over the Old
field measure. Sentiment among the
committe members is said to be divided.
Should the investigation transpire Mr..
Rothermel will introduce at the hearings
letters from is cities representing every
section OF the nation which deals with
the control and operation OF gas corpora
tions.