The Washington herald., 1913-09-03
CITY OWNERSHIP
PROVIDED IN BILL
MIR. Crosser Introduces Meas
ure Relating to District
Public Utilities.
CALLS FOR BOND ISSUE
If Amicable Understanding Cannot Be
Reached for Purchase, COndemna-
lion Proceedings Authorized.

simultaneously with the passage in the
Senate yesterday of a resolution intro
duced by Senator Jones, requiring the
Commissioners to report what steps they
have taken to ascertain whether the
Washington Gaslight Company owns a
majority of the stock of the Georgetown
Gaslight Company, Representative Crosser
of Ohio in the House introduced bill
calling for the municipal ownership of
all public utilities in the District.
The Crosser bill. one of several radical
measures aimed at local utilities inter-
ests, was referred to the House District
Committee. of which Mr.. CTosser is a
member. The Buckeye statesman, a
Henry George single taXer. and Tom
johnson traction man, expects to make
a hard fight to get his measure out Of
committee and on the House calendar
before the end of the first regular session
of this Congress.
CIamOrinE for Recognition.
Although it was reported in some quar-
tiers that the general principles of the
Crosser bill had been generally discussed
in the District Committee. and that such
discussion has indicated an early report
on the measure. this could not be verified
yesterday. But the Crosser bill is OF a
piece with a number Of other measures,
all Of which are clamoring for recosni-
ton. and which can JOIN forces in reach
ing the House calendar.
By the provisions of the Crosser bill
the Commissioners are authorized to ne
gotiate with the owners of local public
utilities with a view to arriving at an
amicable understanding as to the price
TO be paid. If this cannot be accom-
plished in six months, condemnation
T. OceedinEs are to be started. An issue
of 3 l. per cent bonds, in amounts to be
determined by the Commissioners, and
secured by the revenues of the District.
is authorized to pay for the utilities. The
Public Utilities Commission is authorized
TO assume control of the utilities so aC-
quired.
Speaking of his bill yesterday, Mr.
CrosseT said:
Municipal ownership of street rail-
ways in the United States is a certainty
in the very near future. The question
is, Shall it be here and now? l am in
clined to answer, Yes. Students of the
subject believe that Washington offers
an excellent opportunity to test the
principle of municipal ownership as ap-
piled to street railways.
There are no constitutional restric-
tions to contend with. as is the case in
a position to acquire the properties of
the railways by condemnation proceed
ings if they refuse to seIl AT a reason
able price. This means that the city of
Washington would get the street rail-
WAYS at their real value.
Municipal ownership OF the street
railways here, or elsewhere. would Un-
questOnably result in greatly improved
service at reduced cost. At the present
time in Washington a passenger is fire.
quently compelled to pay two fares to
travel n short distance because one line
will not accept the transfers of the other
That means either TWO scent cash
fares or two tickets sold at the rate
of six for 20 cents. In Glasgow. where
the street railways are owned and
operated by the city, 81 per cent of
the passengers are carried for a fare
of l cent, and IS per cent for a fare
OF cents. Private ownership of street
railways COR of any natural monopoly
is necessarily unsatisfactory. We have
tried the plan Of regulating them. Pub
lie utilities commissions have been es-
tablished for that purpose in many