The Washington times., 1915-09-04

COntlnueOl from F1rSt Fasf.)
reduce its rates to consumers other tha n
will offset tine, increased amount re-
"cived frcm public utilities by. reason
If these proposed orders"
Prospect, of Lower Rates.
The prospect of an immediate lower
ing in rates for electric current paid by
rrivate consume Is the direct. result
Of the recent I'M estigation into the re-
ia.ions petween. he railway and power
company.
Objection to the Corner hearing was
made by officials OF both compapies on
me ground that no charges were pre-
erred. Anticipating an appeal TO the
i second hearing and to notify the COM
panics of Its charges and the matters to
ue Investigated. y
TT appears from the testimony ad
uuced at this hearing" says the COM
mission, that the power company con-
structed and owns the poWeI. plant
With its machinery:
That the railway company guaran-
, us they were issued.
z That the railway company receives
power from the poseer, comRany needed
a quantity Of power which the Halfway
company sells to other companies. not
O"ned or COnIrOuSO Dy IL an(fhapprO-
pirates the revenue therefrom.''
Cost Of Production =
THAT the amount paid by the.tailway
company to, the power company for
such power as is received byNt is a
proportion of the actual costyAto the
power company of producing slGh cleo
tr.caI energy.
That amount paid does not include
then per cent interest upon trss' proper
ty W the power company employed in
such production;
Til At the amount does ndt.Sinclude
any lFofit which was to have been
agreed upon from time to time"between
ten pa.sties, nor the 10 per cefh upon
such &C vt Of production whchs NJ. stip-
fasfe os the shssSas in to ss
rate Of rofit." -
Concert png the contention oftSnicials
of the po, yer company and railWay COM
pan, that when agreement is .mhde be-
terchange o { facilities, the comqllssion is
without authority to act. even when
the rates ar,s unjust or discriminatory"
the commiss ION says:
1T Is an Ingenious argument ito say
that such agreements oust the COM
mission of jurisdiction and similar
arguments HAVE been invoked. many
intent Of the saatutes but the trainers
Si this FL law have a. provided aEabst this
"And the fra mers furtherAESy that
constr rued strictly as against; ;Lfff3 COM
mission. but inh,;preted and &pustrued
NheraiIy in order to accomplish the
parpose thereof" M
Quotes Esi Authority.f
The second hearing will ha prob.
ably about September "a. be
conducted by the fIl board. ID II.
Syfne, general counsel for tn nmis.
sion, Will aid in the inquiry.
The commission po lnts to ID hthor-
ity to make such investigated Is fol-
lows:
The spirit and the, letter Of pub
lie utilities law charges the CON bisson
with ascertaining and keeping q elf in
formed as to the manner and Hhethod
In which the businessI OF everyH public
utility is conducted. It Is charged with
the supervision and regulation Of the
utllity's organization. franchise, prop
erty, finances. accounting. rates. opera
tion. and its compliance with every law
applicable to it. including 1.-THE provisions
OF its own charter
1T is armed with ample iEquisitorial
pow ers to obtain Information in any de-
tail, and it is believed that just this
sort ot an arrangeme mt Is one which II
Is intended it should investigate and
correct II necessary