The Washington times., 1917-08-21
NEWMANSEES
LOWER PHONE
ANDELECTR|C
RATES SOON
netiring Commissioner Also Pre-
diets Universal Transfers
and Improved Car Service
Discusses City's Future.
By BILL PRICE.

1AeIg4 SAANNA -
ing from the craftsmanship Of the
Board of Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia, at loss Of
$1,000 in salary each year, to give
his services 70 his country in the
artillery branch of the army, sees
regulation of public service cor
porations as yet the most important
work to be accomplished by the
executive heads of this city.
The views Of Major Newman, re-
firing from high civic duties after
more than four years Of difficult
work, during which he has over
come much prejudice following the
initiation of court proceedings to
prevent his becoming q Commits
sioner, leaving his post with the
good will Of citizens Of all classes,
will be deeply interesting through.
out the District.
Most Important Work.
'Unquestionably the most important
to be done in the District is the ade.
auate regulation OF rates and services
Of the public service corporations,P he
Eaid today.
In my opinion that work will be
done in the near future, and the fruits
of three long, hard years of undra-
matte labor will be enjoyed by the
people of Washington.
when we took up the question Of
regulation under the public utilities
law four years ago, we found our
selves bound TO make a valuation Of
the physical properties by the terms
OF the law creating the Public Utill-
ties Commission. There is no ques-
tion that Congress intended the com
mission to find the fair value OF the
properties and then TX rates on those
values that would give the companies
= fair return and no more.
1T would have been easier for the
commission to have fixed rates by
guess than TO have endured three
:, years Of hard work finding the actual
value Of the property. It would have
satisfied the city, l think, more
readily IL rates had been arbitrarily
set, But there was the mandate Of
Congress staring US iu the fact, and
we had no choice.
Working on Hard Job.
81 have no doubt that many people
in the city and in Congress have felt
the commission wasn't doing any.
thing because it didn't FIX rates. It
was working on a harder job: Find
ing out what rates should be. Those
~ 1naFfrnG
completed, and have every confidence
that the commission will be able to
make substantial reductions, espe-
cially in telephone rates. In this ron
nection ii must be remembered that
reductions may take one OF two forms
actual reduction in charges on the
one hand or improved service on the
other. In the case Of telephone, the
service should be improved, for it IL
very bad here now, and ! think fur
ther reduction in rates may also be
made, notwithstanding there was a
reduction on the part OF the company
before the valuations were com
plstsd-of more than 500, 900 a year.
In the case OF the street car com.
pHnies, ! think the least the city can
expect is universal transfers. That
would be case in which the coIn sis
zion practically would give both kir.1I
Of relief-reduced rates and improved
service. Whether further TeduetieI
can be made remain TO be determined.
Congress took the bull by the
horns in the case Of the gas COM
panies a year ago and reduced rates
10 80 cents in Washington and SIS
cents in Georgetown. Seventy-fiye
cents is a pretty good rate for manu-
featured gas in towns OF this size, and
81 may be that rock-bottom has been
touched there for the time being.
Further Reduction.
Electric light rates have been re-
duced somewhat, but anticipate that
when the war Is over and consequent
war prices OF supplies so down, a
further substantial reduction can De
made. Comparatively, s cents-Ihe
present rate to most customers-Is
high, and even based on our valuation
OF the electric light compsny's prop,
eTty, II gives the company the benefit
Of the doubt by q comfortable margin.
at is no secret that have favored
end vigorously urged public owner
ship and operation OF local utilities.
It has been gratifying to me TO watch
sentiment for that plan OF dealing
with the problem grow, both in wash
ington and in Congress.
In the way Of material improve
nents for the future, think the most
important is the construction OF a
municipal hospital. Next to that Is
the municipalisation Of the garbage
and refuse service, which is now rem
dersd by private contractors. and the
completion OF the reformatory at Oc-
eoquan. Scores of other things come
10 mind but ! think those three are
the biggest, excepting always. of
course, the adjustment OF the alley
dwellings. I am glad TO have helped
start that work. and I hope soon to
see the alley houses go from our
beautiful Capital"