Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21

also watched the various sections as
they were reached and il was his sug-
gestions that led to the stiffening of
the penalties to be imposed for viola
tfons. Interest which other senators
took in the measure was spasmodic.
Even Vice President Sherman thought
the second game of the American League
base ball season in Washington more ex-
citing than regulation of rates tolls
and charges" by public. utility corpora
tons in Washington, and left shortly
after the bill was taken up. Senator
McCumber Of North Dakota was called
to the chair and stuck to his post until
the Senate adjourned.
The small attendance and slight interest
taken in the measure was shown by the
fact that no roll calls were demanded.
because 1t was feared a roll call would
show the absence of quorum and thus
an adjournment would be forced without
getting the bill through. Once when Sem
ator Gronna proposed an amendment in
creasing from 500 to 81 900 the minimum
penalty to be imposed on directors. presi-
dent. secretary or other official of pub
lie utility corporation found guilty of
making false statement to secure the
issue of stock or bonds. show of the
small number present seemed imminent.
Stones Motion Defeated.
Senator Stone of Missouri. who had
not been following the bill closely. was
aroused to an inquiry and a motion
when the reading clerk read the section
proposing to give the orporation coun-
sci OF the District $1,000 increase, be-
cause of the additional duties to be
imposed upon him as attorney for the
Commissioners, when ACTING as the pub
lie utility commission.
The committe considered the matter
carefully" Senator Gallinger explained,
In answer to Mr.. Stones question as to
the reason for it. This officer ought not
Gus work without extra compensation
The corporation counsel can hardly keep
up with his present work, and i think it
is probacle that when this law goes into
effect Congress will have to provide an
additional assistant
Senator Stone wanted to know il the
corporation counsel gave his entire time
to that work, and Mr.. Gallinger replied
that he did.
Il shall vote against this provision. "
replied Mr.. Stone. II do not believe in
increasing the salaries of officials in this
way. Meaning no reflection, l think ii
ought to be in separate measure. SO as
TO be an open question" Mr.. Stones mo-
ton was lost.
Several provisions in the bill, about
which some discussion was expected,
We're agreed to without hitch 1t had
been expected that the provision giving
the commission power to allow one public
utility company to purchase the stock or
bonds of another in the same line of
business would be opposed by Senator
Curtis. but he was not in the chamber
when the provision was under considera-
ton. and no other senator raised an is
sue. Such interownership is prohibited
unless authorized by the commission
On motion of Senator Gallinger a
new section was added, which pro-
vides:
That before final determination of
such value, the commission shall, after
notice Of not less than thirty days to
the public utility, hold a public hear
ing as to such valuation in the manner
hereinafter provided for a hearing,
which provisions, SO far as applica BILE
shall apply to such hearings.
1.-THE commission SHALL within ten days
after such valuation is determined, serve
a statement thereof upon the public util-
ity interested. and shall file a like state
metn with the District committees in Con-
gress."