The Washington times., 1919-01-29
SOLONS MAY
GIVE UTILITY
Commission
MORE POWER
By BILL PRICE.

To eiothe the Public Utilities Com
mission with power to fX wages Of
employees in public utilities OF the
District, in connection with rates the
public shall pay for service. is a
possibility in the near future, accord
ing TO a number OF prominent men
who have been studying this ques-
tion.
This could not be brought about ex-
cept by act OF Congress, but il is
known that several Congressmen
have for some time had in mind the
INTRODUCTION Of bills for a recOnstruc-
tion of the Public Utilities Coumis
sion and Strengthening Of the Jaws
by which 1t ives created, concentrat-
ing the strongest sort of authority
in the hands OF the commission.
There does not appear to be the
slightest opposition in 4, Congress TO
the personnel OF the commissioners it
now exists, but there rs strong con-
Viction in the minds of several states
men, expressed to this writer. that
the Public Utilities Commission
should be an independent body, COM
= posed of men who will give their en-
lire time TO the duties Of the position
and who are not encumbered with
heavy responsibilities in other diTec-
. lions.
Men Are OverwOFked,
The Commission is now COMPOSED
OF the three Commissioners % the
District. and they arc about the most
OYerworked trio OF public officials in
The United States. They make more
transitions from one line OF work 10
another than the most versatile stage
man or woman. They sit for a few
hours in one day as District Com
missioners and change later to Pub
lie Utility Commissioners, shifting
back again during the day. The we'll
known flea has nothing on them for
quick movement
For three or four years there has
been enough work in utility questions
10 occupy three men and q corps Of
assistants. The war added many bur
dens to the program, and readjust-
meuts OF the war will CORY before
the commission new phases of utility
problems every month or SO.
Closely -IIIIed Problems.
The commission has broad powers
now. but these do not extend beyond
rate and fare making. requirements
or operation OF utilities and similar
questions. There is no power TO esta6-
lish minimum wages TO be paid; wages
sufficient TO maintain workers for pub
lie utilities and their families in rea-
sonable lcomfort- GYet the rate making
ana Wage-fxinE problems arc now rec
ogRized TO be closely allied.
The growing feeling Of tie public
that in public utilities il a party
TO all proceedings is being recognized
more thoroughly every daN and is
now admitted by officials Of the
utility corporations serving the pub
lie. On the general principle that the
public pays the bills in the end il Is
deeply and vitality concerned on all
questions affecting the revenues of
utility corporations, and no question
is more important than that of wages.
= The street. railways OF the coun-
try have been right up against the
problem of lack OF a regulatory body
governing ell questions affecting the
electric railways. They have been
compelled to submit to the decress of
the War Labor Board az TO increased
wages, but no Federal or other body
has been able to issue DEGREES that
would increase their revenues u 4
point enabling them to pay the in
creased wages. The result is that
some OF the largest street railway
companies OF the United States are
now in the hands of receivers.
No Concentration Of Power.
When tho United States Railroad
Administration was created Director
General McAdoo was impoTtuued to
include street railways in his man
aEement. but this he refused. The
steam railways have had the benefit
of loans Of hundreds OF millions Of
dollars Of Government money and in
creased passenger and freight rates
10 meet their additional increased ex-
rsnditures, including wages, but
there has been no such concentration
OF power in behalf Of the electric
railways. which are today in deplora-
ble condition all over the country.
High street railway officials of
Washington would like Congress TO
provide a regulatory body that would
control the electric railways but
there is little chance Of this being
done, owing to interstate compIica-
tions.
It is within the power Of Congress,
however, TO give broader regulatory
mowers 70 the Public Utilities Com