Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-04

dent Of the Washington Railway ana
Electric Company. The time Is lar Gus
tant and the day remote when eitnef
Congress or the public utilities commission
will find 1t necessary to take their law
from the counsel of this company or their
morals from its management
President John G. McGrath OF the as
ISOLATION called on Insurance Commission
er Nesbit as the third speaker, and that
official responded with the novel sugges-
ton that If real estate owners can ope-
rate elevators in buildings without cost
to the public municipal governments
might also be able to run street railways
on a no-charge basis. He stated that the
building Of extensions into the country
and opening up of communities which
would add to the taxable area might
prove to be a sufficient financial consid-
Grafton to enable cities to maintain free
street car lines.
Views of the Commissioners.
Commissioner Newman president of the
board of Commissioners, referred to the
management of the District of Columbia
water department as an example of how
effectively public service functions may
be discharged by municipalities. The cry
of socialism. he urged. should not frighten
those who see advantages in the munich
pal ownership plan.
Every question which has come before
the public utilities commission, he stated.
has stood on one proposition-the ele-
ment of private profit. The commission,
he pointed out is required to protect the
profit of the companies as well as look
cut for the interests of the public. 1t is
practically impossible, said the Commits
sioner. to regulate for the public veal
any of the utilities when the element of
private gain Is constantly bobbing up to
defeat the purpose.
While stating that. as a member of
the utilities commission. he should not
be expected to announce in advance Of
official declaration his attitude on such
questions as municipal ownership, Com
missioner Sddons declared that, as
citizen, he had no hesitancy in asserting
that public service can only be rendered
by public servants and not by private
individuals.
Commissioner Harding said the success
full operation OF the Districts water de-
partment is due to the fact that it Is I'M
der an efficient management, which is on
the job in the interest of the people TWEEN
ty-four hours every day. The Engineer
Commissioner paid tribute to the work
of the corporation counsel. declaring that
this official is proving a thoroughly ca
pable and conscientious servant of the
people.
Clean City Program Endorsed.
Prior to the discussion of public utIli-
ties questions, the association, which met
In the Whitney Avenue Christian Church,
Georgia avenue and Park road held its
regular monthly business session. The
clean city campaign was indorsed, and
an appropriation of S. authorized for the
use of the clean city committee.
Charlton NJ. Clark in a brief speech
thanked the Commissioners, on behalf Of
the association, for their aid in having
the Park View School item included in
the District appropriation bill. and ex-
pressed the hope that as soon as the ap-
preparation is authorized effort will be
made by the authorities to have the i'm
provement started with as little delay as
possible.