The Washington times., 1914-06-01
THE COMMISSIONERS
AND THE CARS.

Commissioners Newman, Siddons,
hd Harding went through a none
10 comfortable experience in their
ppearance before the House Com
ittee on District Affairs, to defend
10 explain their reasons for rec
nmending public ownership OF
rect car lines. They were in a diff
cult situation. AS Commissioners
bey had strongly recommended the
ublic ownership program; and as
commissioners they were called to
In the committee what they knew
bout it, that justified their recon-
bendation.
But these three gentlemen are also
be members of the Public Utilities
board, and as such have to deal ju-
hcially with the public utilities.
therefore, they were compelled to
az to the committee that they did
ot feel at liberty to discuss public
ownership of car lines with intimate
detail as related to the local lines.
To go into reasons which might lead
kthem to feel that the street cars in
Washington needed to be publicly
owned. would expose what might
ater be attacked as prejudice, and
perhaps render them ineligible to
ervice on the Public Utilities body.
Fl erefore, at the outset Commission
r Newman asked, and his colleagues
ater repeated the request, to be ex-
u ed from detailed discussion of the
Washington street car conditions.
Opponents of the public ownership
blan of course seized upon this very
Troper reluctance of the Commits
81 ners as an evidence Of the weak
b. IS of their case, and hammered
bay in the effort to get them into a
II cussion of local, detailed, specific
re sons why these particular street
cars should be owned and operated
b. the Government. 1t was rather
b tsir, but doubtless as fair as peo-
pe ere commonly expected to be in
such cases.
The Commissioners made an ex-
e. lent statement of their case in
' g neral, and one that will hardly
T. i 70 impress the committee. 1t is
fact whose significance is not to-
day fully realized, that the three
Commissioners should be unani-
y Gus in support of such a pro-
Fressive program as they have in
oorsed. That alone represents very
] lg step toward better conditions in
ifIs city. 1t indicates that now at
9Th the conception has secured
J igment in the official mind, that
lie public has an immediate concern
out the operation of the utilities,
and that that concern must. have at
1 ution before profits or speculation
: nall get it.
Whether the Crosser bill shall pass
~ this time is rather unimportant,
lough favorable report on it from
: ne House committee would be senti-
mentally of the greatest value and
oesirability. Even, however, if the
measure should pass this Congress
us execution would have to await
the perfection of the great task of
ippraisirg the local utilities, which
IS expected to require a year or
more.
The present is the time when the
Washington public has need to look
round and take account of stock in
The matters of its friends and its
enemies. 1t is good time to notice
who is for and who is against the
commissioners in this effort to serve
the people. 1t is an excellent time to
list people who are disappointed"
with the Commissioners for taking
their stand on the pubiic's side. 1t
IS an appropriate time to observe
who has courage and convictions to
speak up for the great, inarticuIate
body Of public opinion that doesn't
get much chance to make itself heard
and felt. The interests on the other
side are always able to make them
selves heard. They can have their
kiRS 0t statistics manufactured to