Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-03
Bills introduced in House by
Representative Clark Urge
Government Ownership.
FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN
CALLS SERVICE FIERCE
United States Wasting Fortune, He
Asserts, in Auto Hire for War
Work-Asks Speedy Probe.

Two resolutions proposing that the
government own and operate public util-
tiles in the District of Columbia were
introduced in the House today by Rep
resentative Frank Clark of Florida, DEM
ocrat, chairman of the committee on
public buildings and grounds, member
of the new suffrage committee and COM
mittees on alcoholic liquor traffic, the
library and war claims. In one bill
Representative Clark particularizes the
importance of federal operation of
street railways in the District, in the
other he specifies electric light, gas and
telephone service.
He proposes the Speaker shall appoint
a committee of five to investigate and
report to the House at as early a day
as may be practicable on the feasibil-
ity of the government owning and
operating within the District of Colum-
bia such public utilities. The commit
"First-To summon witnesses and
compel their attendance, and admins
ter oaths and take testimony.
"Second-To compel by subpoena
duccs tecum the production of such
books documents, records and papers
as said committee may decide to ex-
anime In the course of such inyestiga-
ton.
'Third-To examine thoroughly into
the business Of any and all persons
firms or corporations at present en-
- L. 11r.~ hAR
named, in the District of Columbia, sc
as to ascertain the actual amount OF
capital invested in each: the number
of people employed by each and sal
aries paid; the monthly and yearly
gross net earnings of each; the salaries
paid by each to each Official; the actual
value of the property of each and any
ment of the committee would tend tc
SHOW the condition Of each financially
-.Fourth-To employ such counsel
clerical help, including stenoefephef1
and such expert assistance as may by
the committee be decided to be neces-
sary"
Asks $4,000 Appropriation.
For the purpose of defraying the ex-
penses of this congressional investi-
eating committee the resolution makes
an appropriation of $4,000 available.
Belief that, as the government now
owns and operates the postal service
at a profit. it should likewise own and
operate all other means of oommuni-
eating news and intelligence. such as
the telephone and telegraph service.
especially during these war days. when
the greatest care must be exercised in
such matters, is expressed py Repre-
sentative Clark.
Condition of the public utilities as
operated in Washington. viewed from
the standpoint of the public. .fs simply
fierce" Representative Clark says.
"The telephone service is as bad as
it could possibly be and getting worse
all the time. Both the telephone and
gas companies are bowling for higher
rates. while at the same time they are
not giving decent service for the ex-
tremeIy high rates they are now get
ting. The more business they get the
poorer service they give and the higher
rates they expect. That is contrary to
all business principles and ought to be
ssTo give an example taken from my
own experience. In my home here
pay 81 a month for my telephone sery-
ice and waste about an hour every time
I try to put through call. In my
home in Florida my telephone costs
me s15o a month, only about one-third
of the price here. and I can get prompt
service at any hour.
Deserves Special Attention.
"The street car service here is SO bad
and its annoyances and dangers have
been brought so persistently and forci-
biv to the attention of each member OF
Congress- and every individual citizen
that / have felt it deserved special at
tention in a separate bill. If l said
frankly what we all feel about the
street car service here 1t couldn't be
printed. ,.< -
CONTINUED on Nineteenth Page.)