The Washington times., 1918-12-16
GEN. KUTZ MAY.
HELP IN FIGHT.
TO HAVE CITY"
BUY CAR LINES.
BY BILL PRICE

The swearing in today of Brig.
Gen Charles w. Kutz as Engineer
Commissioner Of the District, sue
ceeding Gen. John G. d. knight may
have much significance in its bear
ing upon problems now before the
Public Utilities Commission. of which
General kutz will, Of course. become
a member.
General Kutz, who was Engineer
Commissioner for several years until
July, 1917, when he asked for active
duty, took the oath of office this
morning in the presence of District
OFFICIALS, being warmly welcomed by
all. As Engineer Commissioner. he
had gained the good will OF his as
sociate Commissioners and of sub
ordinate officials and employees Of
the District, and there was general
satisfaction when it became known
that he was to be assigned TO his
former position.
Served in France
Since leaving the District Building,
General Kutz has served with the
army in France, being with engineer
forces OF the United States in many
perilous undertakings. Because of
MS 0iSNluSu ulSnGo Services InSTGs ne
was brought back and made COM
mandant at Camp Humphreys, where
he again demonstrated abilities of a
high order as ranking official.
There are pending before the Utili-
ties Commission two problems of ut
most Importance to the city-that of
the proposed increase in gaSrates and
that of free transfers from the COM
peting street car lines.
= General knight has taken an active
part in the hearings on these sub
jects. The installation of new Pub
lie Utilities Commissioner adds a new
element and vote to that body. When
General Kutz left Washington the
war had not brought forward the nu-
merous utility problems that have
since imposed heavy work upon the
commission Hard worker that he is,
General Kutz will soon obtain full
information as to the various ques-
tions brought up and their DISPOSE
tion by the commission.
During General Kutz's former in
cumbency OF his present position the
subject OF municipal ownership OF the
street railways often was agitated. His
predecessor, then Colonel JudSon, Join
ed in a unanimous report to Congress
favoring municipal ownership. This
was upon the Crosser bill Since the
advent OF General Knight upon the
UTILITIES Commission the majority OF
that body has opposed municipal own
erstipS Commissioners Gardiner and
knight have not favored the idea, and
Commissioner Brownlow was in the
minority
General Kutz's attitude on all these
questions may be OF material conse-
quence. possibly changing a majority
TO a minority.
bill for municipal ownership o.
the Washington street railways is
sure to be brought forward again-if
not in the present Congress then in
the next 1t has not been pressed
since the war began. owing to big na
tional questions that occupied all the
attention of Congress. There is a
large element in House and Senate
favoring a public ownership for Dis
trict roads.
Good VIII for Gen. knight.
No Engineer Commissioner has left
the District Building in many years
with more widespread regret as Cen
eral knight. He is seventy-three
years old and long~had retired from
the army when W2r again brought a
demand for his services. He has TAX
en- a profound interest in District
matters and has shown solicitous con
for the opinions OF Dis
trict citizens. He was accessible at
all times. He has deeply sympathized |