Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11
FAvORS CALLING EXPERTS
Thinks Omissions, Have Been Made
in Gallinger Measure.
HAD EXPERIENCE IN GEORGIA
Mr.. Cummins Also Working on Mat
ter Of Vital Importance to
District.

A public utilities bill for the District
of Columbia that will be a model for all
sections of the country Is the goal for
which Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia
will urge Congress to strive.
He has taken lively interest in the
Gallinger public utilities BILL which is
pending before the Senate and occupy
ing the foremost place among all the
bills on the calendar of the upper house
the unfinished business. Inasmuch as
Congress is to pass the utilities bill
for the District, Senator Smith thinks
special attention should be given to It, SO
that it will comprise the best features
of all the laws on the subject in juris-
dictions where such enactments are in
force and include new features that
are in advance of and an Improvement
over the others.
! He thinks this result may be accom-
plished by the calling of confenence
of experts familiar with the enactments
of the various states and with The ad-
Iation, to go over the bill low before
the Senate and redraft such portions of
1t as they deem necessary to make
perfect law.
Makes Suggestions.
Speaking Of the Ga1hnger bill and his
suggestions for Improvement, Senator
Smith said last night:
II watched the reading of the bill very
carefully as it came from the committee.
While there are many admirable features
in it there are also several important
omissions. Intelligent labor has been
placed upon the measure. but it seems
to be rather a compilation. 1 have not
"a fhA
my view of the matter is that the pub
lice service bill for the District ought to
be made a model To accomplish this the
chairmen Of several Of the most success
United States might be invited to Wash
ington to go over these bills and. with
the benefit Of their experience, remodel
them and give to the District perfect
measure.
"Of course, they would call in those
locally connected with the District gov
ernment who are familiar with local
affairs. but the bill finally adopted by
Congress for the District ought to be
other parts OF the country. 1 do not
think any one will claim that either
Of the two bills now pending could be
classed as model.
Pushed Measure in Georgia.
Senator Smith was active in pushing
public utilities measure through the
Georgia legislature, and he supervised
the inauguration of the work OF the
public utilities commission. He is
familiar with it's problems and its
duties, and he is, therefore, regarded
as somewhat Of an expert on such
legislation.
The Georgia law. it is understood.
gives the state commission jurisdiction
over gas and electric companies and
other municipal corporations
Senator Cummins of Iowa, too is TAX
ing special interest in the public util-
tiles bill for the District. by reason
Of his familiarity with such legisla-
ton in his state.
It is probable he will move to strike
out the section Of the bill allowing the
public service corporations to maintain a
depreciation account and specifying that
the commission shall take the need for
such an account into consideration in
making rates and charges.
Use of Depreciation Fund.
/ When the bill was under consideration
the other day Mr.. Cummins criticised
the provision allowing the use Of the
depreciation fund for extensions or ad-
ditions to the property Of the public serv-
ice corporation. His contention was that
the rates to be charged should not be al
lowed to be big enough to raise the new
capital necessary for extensions Of lines
or additions to plants His idea Is that
the rates should allow for proper repairs
and maintenance.
IF there is depreciation account.
there ought to be an appreciation ac-
count" Senator Cummins has said. IL
property Ia kept in proper repair and
maintenance in growing community, 1t
will be worth more at the end Of a ten
year period than at the beginning"
BIG LABOR WAR FEARED.