Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-18
Doremus Bill Provides Com
mission of Wide Scope.
NOT CONFINED TO DISTRICT
Jurisdiction Over Interstate Gas and
Electric Plants.
HALF FROM LOCAL REVENUE
Bill Carries an Appropriation of
$25O,OOO to Pay Expenses
of Commission.

An appropriation Of $25O,OOO for the ex-
penses of federal public utilities COM
mission to Aave absolute control of all
the public service corporations in the
District of Columbia. and of all electric
and gas companies doing an interstate
business, is proposed by bill introduced
in the House today by Representative
Doremus of Michigan. OF the quarter
of million proposed to be- appropriated
for the expenses of the commission, the
bill specifically provides that $12o.OOO shall
be paid from the revenues of the District
and a like amount from the revenues of
the United States.
The commission is to consist of five
members. to be appointed by the Pres.-
dent with the consent of the Senate
without regard to politics. who are re-
quired to live in Washington, and who
are to receive $4,000 year.
The bill specifically directs that every
public utility doing business in the Dis
trict of Columbia is required to furnish
adequate and safe service and facilities"
and to charge reasonable. just and nom
discriminatory" rates.
Dividends in Cash Only.
Another section provides that mo pub
lie utility in the District of Columbia shall
declare any stock, bond or scrip dividend.
or divide the proceeds of the sale of any
stock. bond or scrip among its stock
holders
Local street car. companies are directed
to exchange universal transfers at all
points where their tracks come within
40 feet of meeting. and the commission Is
directed to enforce the proporti0nate rate
OF transfer exchange between the COM
psnies.
The commission is directed to make ex-
perimepts In the District of Columbia
and to diffuse the information .hrou-n
the United States to such cities and
towns as may apply for 1t.
The three sections of Importance in
the bill, which other measures of the
same sort have not carried. and which
gives the commission nationwide au-
thority over gas and electric companies
doing an interstate business. are as
follows:
Given q Wide Scope.
Section 1O4 That the provisions of
this act that all charges made by any
public utility rUf-any facility or service
furnished or rendered or to be furnished
or rendered, shall be reasonable, just and
piicable to any corporation or persons in
the United States engaged In the business
Of manufacturing. producing. generating
or purchasing electricity for the purposes
OF light. heat. fuel or power, and trans
mitting or distributing the same from one
state or territory; of the United States
into another state or territory of the
United States. or from any foreign coun-
try into any state or territory OF
IL
state or territory OF the United
States into any foreign country; also
TO any corporation or person In the
United States engaged In the business OF
manufacturing. generating, producing or
purchasing gas for the purposes of light.
heat. fuel or power. and transmitting or
distributing the same from one state or
territory Of the United States or from
ritory OF the United States. or from any
state or territory of the United States
into foreign country. Any unjust. un-
reasonable or discriminatory charge made
for such facility or service ana every
inadequate insufficient or unsafe facility
or service furnished or rendered or to be
furnished or rendered. by any such cor
poration or person, Is hereby prohibited
and declared unlawful
Section 1O6. That the commission
hereby created shall have authority to in
Quire into the management of the busi-
ness Of any corporation or persons carry
ing on business as described In the last
preceding section and shall keep itself in
formed as to the manner and method in
which said business is conducted. and
shall have the right to obtain from such
corporation or person full and complete
information necessary to enable the COM
mission to perform the duties hereby i'm
posed. The commission shall investigate
in such manner and by such means as 1t
may deem best the actual cost of furnish
ing and delivering to consumers gas and
electricity for the purposes Of light. heat.
fuel or power by any such corporation or
person
INQUIRIES Authorized.
The commission II also authorized and
empowered upon its own initiative or
upon the complaint Of any municipality,
corporation. partnership. association or
person to institute an inquiry for the
purpose Of ascertaining whether any
charge or rate made for any service or
facility rendered by any corporation or
person described in section 1OI of this act
is reasonable, just and non-discrimina-
person IL furnishing or rendering facili-
ties or services that are safe and ade-
quate. In the conduct OF any such In
quiry the practice shall conform to that
now prescribed by law with reference to
the investigation Of complaints against
common carriers by the interstate COM
merce commission so far as the same
may be applicable thereto.
Section lO6. Whenever after full hearing
upon complaint, or after full hearing
the commission upon its own initiative.
the commits ssion shall be Of the opinion
that any charge or complaint made by
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