Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-09
Clear Sailing for Public Utili-
ties Bill Not Assured.
SENATOR CURTIS TO FIGHT
Objects to Commissions Power to
O. K. Stock Buying.
COMMITTEE HEARING LIVELY
District Commissioners Voice Pref
erences-Senator Cummins Sug-
gests Revision.

Even though the public utilities bin.
framed at the meeting of the Senate
District committee yesterday, is much
more stringent and comprehensive than
when first reported from the committee.
clear sailing for the measure in the
Senate is not assured.
Senator Curtis has reserved the right to
fight one of the important features of the
measure on the floor of the Senate. and
II is thought other senators will stand
with him. His objection caused change
to be made in the measure when 1T was
under consideration by the committee
earlier this session. but in his absence
yesterday the committee took the opposite
view
The provision to which Senator Cur
tbs takes objection is that which will
give the public utility commission
power to allow one public utility cor
poration to buy the stocks or bonds
OF another AS agreed to by the COM
mittee yesterday. this interownership
would be allowed when authorized by
law or by the commission Mr.. Curtis
does not want the commission to have
that power.
Curtis Open to Argument.
When Senator Curtis made his objection
to this section at the meeting of the
committee yesterday it was urged that
a proposition for the consolidation of the
two big street railway systems in Wash
ington is under consideration, and the
prohibition which Senator Curtis is in
sisting upon. would prevent its cOnSum-
nation. But Mr.. Curtis is understood to
have replied that il one company desired
to take over the other, 1T should buy Its
property outright and then all stock
holders and bOndholders will be treated
alike.
Mr. Curtis, however, offered to hear
arguments that the giving to the COM
mission Of this power was good policy
for the District of Columbia, and il he
is convinced, he will withdraw his OPP
position Otherwise, there is likely to
be a fight over the section on the floor
of the Senate.
Yesterdays meeting was lively one
according to the reports that have leaked
cut today through holes in the veil of
secrecy thrown over the proceedings by
Senator Gallinger. sponsor for one public
utility bill, and by Senator Works, spon-
sor for the other.
Commissioners Give Preferences.
When the public utility question was
under consideration in the Senate, both
Senators Gallinger and Works claimed
that the District Commissioners had in
dorsed his particular measure There was
SuSSeStiOu tudt the COMMISSIONERS Hdu
not stayed put. but had Endorsed Senator
Gallinger's. bill to him and Mr. Works
substitute to its author.
When the Commissioners appeared be-
fore the committee yesterday. Senator
Gallinger called attention to this situation
and he gave the heads of the District
government to clerly understand that
their preferences were to be made known
no matter who was sighted hurt.
And when it came to considering the
amendments which Senator Works offered
TO the Gallinger bill to stop some Of the
blow holes" the Commissioners were
asked their preferences and gave them.
In the revised bill. there will not appear
the provision Of the Gallinger bill allow
building extension of lines or additions
to plants.
Cummins Suggests Revision.
Senator Cummins of Iowa, who has had
much experience with railroad legislation
in his home state and who Is regarded as
an expert In writing railroad regulation
measures, declared that rates should not
be made so high as to allow railroad COM
panies to make enough money to finance
extensions, and maintained that this sec
ton. as reported from the committee,
would allow that. Senator Gallinger rec
ognizing the force Of the suggestion,
MOVED that the section be stricken out.
and il is understood the revised bill will
not be open to the objection raised by
Senator sCumminsl ev.sl.4- 49,
The framing Of the amendments, in the
line of redrafting the Gallinger bill. is
progressing today. The revised measure
probably will be reported to the Senate
tomorrow or next day, and Senator Gal
finger will lose no time In having II con-