Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-11
Amended Utilities Bill Report
ed to Senate.
EXPECT EARLY APPROVAL
REQUIRES PROPERTY VALUES
Stringent Regulations as to Issue Of
Stocks, Bonds and Other
Liabilities Provided.

Senator Gallinger. chairman of the
Senate District committee, today re-
ported back to the Senate, with q recon-
mendation that it pass, the public utili-
ties bill, revised to make more stringent
the regulation of the operations of public
utility corporations in the District and
to give larger powers to the public utili-
ties commission.
AS the amendments which have been
agreed to by the Senate District COM
mittee aid which have been embodied in
the bill as reported today take in prac-
tically all provisions of the substitute Of
fered by Senator Works. who attacked
the Gallinger bill on the ground that it
was not stringent enough, opposition to
the revised bill in the Senate is expected
to be small. and It was predicted today
that the Senate will early give it's ap-
prevail. The bill is still the Gallinger
bill. although numerous amendments
have been adopted.
The committee has stricken from the
Dill the Limitation to $500 feet in the
provision allowing one public utility to
use the tracks or other similar equip
ment Of another public utility. As now
recommended by the committee the bill
will provide that every public utility
doing business In the District Of Column
poles. wires. switchboards. exchanges,
works or other equipment shall, for q
reasonable compensation. permit the use
OF the same by any other public utility
sity require such use.' etc. The pro-
vision that in case the corporations In
question cannot agree regarding the me-
cessity for joint use. or regarding the
compensation to be paid for Joint use, the
commission shall decide, is retained.
Obliged to Comply.
adopted from the Works substitute
specifically gives the commission power
not only to compel public utility corpo-
rations to comply with this proposed law
and municipal regulations. but also to
compel them to comply with all other
laws Of the United States applicable"
This will enable the committee to enforce
provisions of the general laws for the
regulation Of interstate commerce.
In providing for the physical valuation
OF the properties of the public utilities
the committee substituted for the Mary
land statute. which had been in the GAL
linger bill. the Wisconsin statute.
Senator Gallinger had chosen the Mary
land law because 1t was later than the
Wisconsin legislation and was thought,
therefore, to be better. Senator Works.
however. and some other members of the
vision better. as more direct and more
mandatory and somewhat broader, and
Senator Gallinger yielded.
There has been adopted from the Works
substitute a section making it mandatory
on the commission to make q valuation of
an <af r,t1 In
District, but the section authorizing a
revaluation Of the property, which had
been In both bills, is left out Of the re-
vised measure.
As to Depreciation Account.
AS has been indicated by preliminary
reports of the committees action on the
bill. the section regarding the depreciation
account has been redrafted. Objection
has been taken to that part of it which
said that ''ali moneys in this fund may
be expended in new constructions. ex-
tensions or additions to the property Of
such public utility" AS 1t appears in the
revised bill. it reads: "Al moneys in this
fund may be expended In keeping the
property Of such public utility In repair
and good and servfceable condition Tor
the use to which 1t Is devoted"
The committee has added to the list OF
things which 1t is to investigate upon
complaint or upon its own initiative time
and conditions Of payment" SO that 1t
is specified that upon its own initiative
against any public utility that any Of the
rates, tolls, charges or schedules or serv-
ices or time and conditions of payment
or any joint rate or rates, schedules, serv-
unjustiy discriminatory'' the commission
ia tn make an Investigation.
Ownership Of Stock.
The provision about the ownership
of stock or bonds Of one public utility
corporation by another has been re-
drafted to prohibit the acquiring Of
either stock or bonds OF one company
by another. except on the written au-
thority Of the commission. Senator
Curtis is DESTROYS to have this chang
ed SO that the commission will not
even have that power.
An important new section put into
the bill from the Works substitute
provides THAT IL 1t be alleged and
established in an action brought in any
court for the collection OF any charge
for gas or electricity that price has
been demanded In excess OF that fixed
by the commission or by statute no
recovery shall be had therein, but the
fact that such excessive charges have
been made shall be q complete defense
to such action"
The committee decided to extend from
ninety to 40 days the length of time
within which appeals from orders OF the
commission must be taken to the courts,
IL the appeal Is to be valid. The bill
originally had given the commission
power to extend the ninety days period.
but that authority Is denied to the COM
mission as the bill IL redrafted.
Senator Works made q fight, when the
bill was before the Senate. for the in
corporation In the bill Of lengthy regula-
tons governing the proceedings before
the commission when its authority is de-
sired by public utility corporation for
new issues OF stocks. bonds, mortgages.
etc., but the full committee did not adopt
Mr.. Works view. Senator 'Gallinger, who
had opposed 1t, took the position that the
details Of the proceedings could be left
to the commission, and his view pre-
The redrafted bill IL more stringent in
regulating the issue OF stocks. bonds and
other liabilities.
The committee did not adopt the provi-
commission power to suspend any rates
injury to business in case Of emergency.
The Works substitute. also. had In 1t
provisions for universal transfers, but
that was not grated on to the Gall1nger
bill.
HURT ny FALLING ICE.