The Washington herald., 1912-01-20
DOREMUs BILL CONTAINS
A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT

So much that is commendatory IS
embraced in the Doremus public util-
ities bill that it is with reluctance
one turns to assaiI it in its vital prin-
ciple 1t contains excellent provisions
respecting Federal contro} of public
utilities in Washington and gas light
ing and power utilities of other parts
Of the country. 1t even requires the
street railway companies of the Dis
trict to give universal transfers at
points of junction and where they come
within 200 feet OF junction
The formation of a commission of
FIVE members by appointment of the
President and confirmation by the Sem
ate, the personnel Of the body to be
made up without regard to politics, its
members to live in Washington and to
receive $4,000 a year each as salary,
Is all excellent No one can find fault
with these provisions or the means pro-
posed to require reports from public
utility corporations and to institute in
vestigationS on the part of the COM
mission The service required of cor
poratiouS in the District of Columbia
Is all that any reasonable resident
would expect.
Only At the basis OF this bill turks
4 principle dangerous, insidious, and
destructive of the right relation which
exists, and should exist, between the
municipal and Federal governments.
The purpose of the measure to extend
the jurisdiction of the commission
which il creates beyond the District,
while exercising almost despotic power
over the corporations of Washington,
IS III itself a questionable departure
from wise legislation The Federal Dis
trict in law and practice is in and OF
itself apart from the governments of.
the States. and TO mingle the authority
OF this commission by placing it in
control Of local utilities and then Civ
ng ii jurisdiction of inquiry over gas,
electric lighting, and power plants in
he whole United States is something
not heretofore contemplated in the laws
IF Congress. The power OF Congress
to do this is not questioned. but the
wisdom OF so doing docs admit of ar
gumcut. a resident of Washington
may be excused if he does not admit
the force or necessity of the innova-
ton.
But this IS only mild in comparison
with the manner in which ii IS proposed
10 pay the expenses of the commission
The Dorcmus bill provides that of the
S25o.oOo appropriated for salaries and
other costs of the commission and its
work the District of Columbia shall
pay one-half That the District should
be called upon to pay one-half of the
expenses Of a purely Federal commits
sion TO exercise supervision over local
public utilities would be a serious ques-
ton, but TO pay one-half of the ex-I
penses of a commission charged with
ten times more work for the nation
than for the District is worse than in
justice, and reaches the dimensions of
an outrage. Moreover. such an arrange
ment could not last minute before
the courts without repeal of the most
important section of the charter law
of the District of Columbia passed in
1873.
In that law it is provided that the
Commissioners shall make an esti-l
mate of the amounts required for the
administration of the municipal gov
crnment and shall submit it to the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. to be by him
submitted to Congress with any rec
concentrations he cares to make. The
system under which the two govern
ments arg working in harmony and
with satisfaction and success does not
contemplate expenses for activities car
ried on by Fedeal institution in the
States. The proposed measure is sub
vcrsive of the true principle of cooper
alton between the two governments as
regards the District of Columbia, and
it introduces confusion in terms as
well as in practice between the two
sources of authority.
It behooves the people of Washing
ton TO oppose by every means at their
disposal the Doreuus bill. unless the
half-and-half principle Of payment is |
eliminated therefrom This. at least, isl
possible, and the further merging of
supervision over District utilities with |
that Of lighting and power monopoIies
outside IS of 50 questionable application
that il should be opposed also. The
PITY IS that measure framed with sol