The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
REFORMS STARTED BY COMMISSIONERS 81
IN LINE WITH THEIR ANNOUNCED POLICY

reer. Mr.. Newman has won the self
mastery necessary to the poise of re-
former. His theories of government are
progressive. and are well illustrated by
his favor OF municipal ownership OF pub
lie utilities.
Commissioner Frederick L. Siddons, the
other civilian Commissioner, Is gifted
public speaker. He, too, brings to his
new office the viewpoint Of the social
worker. Mr. Siddons is an able lawyer,
and his record as a practicing attorney
in Washington is guarantee in itself
to the people of Anacostia and other Dis
trict communities, forgotten in the past,
that their day Is dawning.
Col. Chester A. Harding. Engineer Com
missioner. Is not only a capable engineer,
which, among other achievements. is evil
denced by bis construction OF the Gatun
locks of the Panama Canal. but he Is
also possessed of the qualifications of the
statesman, has a lively appreciation of
the needs OF the people, an earnest con-
viction of responsibility, and knowl-
edge of how popular needs are to be
satisfied.
Progressive Democracy.
Thus, the new District commission that
is to guide the immediate development
of the national Capital stands for pro-
gressive democracy. The situation with
the people and in Congress is more diff
ficult of definition. During the past year,
bills have been introduced In both the
Senate and the House for the restoration
OF self-government in the District. A
bill recently has been brought to the at
tention of the House with the purpose of
abrogating the Federal governments
financial relations with the District, as
contributor TO the city's development and
maintenance.
Among the residents. a sentiment favor
ing self-government has been growing
throughout the year. Some want sell
government even at the expense Of the
half-and-half principle. others are de-
mandIng local self-government and the
continuance Of the present fiscal eo-part-
nership of the Federal and municipal gov
ernment In The Capital, and, there are
still others violently opposed to any al
teration of the present conditions.
1t is. then, to the District Commission
ers that the people are looking with the
beginning OF a new year for indication of
the city's future. One of the first ac-
tions Of the new Commissioners was
their general invitation to the people to
mako their wishes known. They
changed the public hearing from an ex-
elusive little affair between the Commits
sioners and those most intimately inter
ested to an open council at which all
were welcome to express themselves.
There are a number OF acts by the
Commissioners since last July which
serve as data for the filling in of more
detailed picture of what these new ofii-
cials understand under the phrase
model government
Bond Issue DIsnPproved.
On July q. the Commissioners. as a
public utilities commission, announced
their decision to refuse approval to a
So OOO.OOO bond issue to the holding com
pany organized at the beginning Of the
year FOR the absorption OF washington's
public utilities. The commission reaf-
hrmed an earlier decision that the pro-
posed issue was in violation Of the La
Toilette anti-merger law. Again, acting
as a utilities body. the Commissioners
on September l, ordered proceedings be-
gun in the District Supreme Court, TO
obtain the dissolution Of the Washington
Gas Light Company. The charge was
viola tion Of the anti-merger law. infor- !
nation in the suit being that the Wash !
ington company owned $3.50 shares OF
stock in the Georgetown Gas Light Com |
pany. Attempt to settle this case on |
basis OF consolidation of the companies I
was shattered by an opinion rendered
by Conrad II. Syme, general counsel OF
the commission, late in December.
Further, as a public utilities commits
sion, the new District heads served no. |
tice upon the local street railway COM |
panies that they intended to make thor
ough investigation as to why the appar- |
ent requirement of existing laws that /
universal transfers be issued was ignored. !
A preliminary hearing was held by the |
on this question october Il |
The hearing was adjourned indefinitely |
until the Commissioners could clear up /!
the pressing work before them. included /
in which was the preparation OF the |
budget. The transfer question probably !
will be reopened early this year.
Railway Company Inquiry.
Their determination to make the public |
utilities law as powerful a vehicle as
possible for the realization Of a manage !
ment of the city's public utilities in the |
interests of the public served was exsnI-
plified' unequiyocally when the Commits
sioners. on the occasion of the declara-
ton OF an extra dividend of per cent On