Evening star., 1919-04-24
CABINET FAVORS
UTILITIES RELIEF
Members to Ask President
for Board of Inquiry to
Cover Nation.
TROUBLE IN MANY CITIES

Appointment of federal commits
sion to canvass the condition of the
nations public utilities and report
as to what relief may be needed
probably will be urged upon Presi-
dent Wilson by members of the cab
met Immediately following his return
from France.
The wholesale rate at which street
railway companies in particular have
been going into the hands Of re-
ceivers has alarmed government Of
heials during the Presidents absence.
There have been numerous confer
ences over the situation.
:. Wide Investigation Proposed.
As a result Of these a letter has
been prepared and is awaiting the
signature of certain cabinet members.
II proposes that the President name
q commission of nine members i'm
mediately to investigate the entire
public utility field.
The letter proposes that the COM
mission consist of one representative
each of the Treasury Department.
Department of Commerce, Department
National Association of Railway and
Utility Commissioners. American
Mayors League, Investment Bankers
Association. American Electric Rail-
way Association and Amalgamated
Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees of America.
1t had been the intention of gov
ernment officials who have been in
vestigating the utility situation since
the governors and mayors confer
ence. held in Washington last winter,
at which the financial plight of util-
ity companies due to war conditions
was discussed, to propose to the
President the creation of a federal
public utilities commission.
Commission May Come Later.
Subsequently it was concluded that
the better procedure would be to have
all the facts gathered by an investi-
eating commission of the character
proposed From the recommenda-
utilities commission ultimately may
develop.
The United States Chamber Of
Commerce. it was announced today,
will give special consideration to the
utility problem at it's annual meeting
in ST. Louis. which starts April 29. A
special committee, Of which Louis E.
Pierson of New York is chairman.
met in Washington last. week to con-
slider means OF presenting the sub
ject for consideration at the general
meeting OF the chamber.
The Federation OF Citizens Asso-
Citations today completed. plans for a
continuation of its inquiry into the
local street railway situation. 1t
called a meeting for Friday night,
in the boardroom of the District
building, at which the public will be
given an opportunity to. say what
measures Of relief. II any, 1t il willing
to give the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. All citizens as
sociation8 and organizations Of every
character interested in the subject Of
street railway service are invited to
send representatives to this meeting.
Question Of Telephone Rates.
The federation also IL going to push
its inquiry into tho right OF the POST
master General to increase telephone
rates in the District. President
westlake this morning appointed the
committee which il to mako the in
vestigation. 1t consists Of j.. p.
Crawford, chairman; Henry Randall
Webb, Edward F. Colladay, Charles
s. Shreve, William 8. Torbert and
Frederick ]. Rice. The committee Is
given discretionary powers and may,
IL 1t chooses. institute mandamuD pro-
Ceedings to halt the increases. which
go 20 hacop,a effective Nav