Evening star., 1920-03-31

distance for which you can ride for q
1 fare in the District
| MI Clayton also had made the
point that the commission could moi
authorize subway or elevated syS-
tenn without the action of Congress
| ana that zone system is in the same
category. Mr.. Dunlop said he be-
heVes the commission has the right to
authorize a subway or elevated sys-
tenn.
Discusses Roads Charters.
At this point Mr.. Clayton asked Mr.
| Dunlop if there is anything worth
while left in the charters of the
roads. The attorney replied that there
were many things left in the char
| ters
| Mr.. Clayton declared that few
years ago when the question of trans
fers was up for discussion the COM
! panies defended the impregnability
He said he was surprised to hear
the companies arguing along a diff
ferent line today.
Mr.. Dunlop told Mr.. Clayton he still
believes the charters are impregnable
in SO far as the constitutional rights
OF the companies are concerned. and
that he would argue for the conStitu-
tionality of the charters If anything
was attempted that would break the
contract which Congress made with
! the companies. He said Congress has
amended the charters in respect to
rate making.
"In other words" Mr.. Clayton re-
piled. 'Hf the commission wants to do
something that you want done the
charters can get ont OF the way. and
if the commission wants to do some
thing you don't want done you stand
a r.
terS?"
This prought loud applause from
the men and women who filled the
board room.
When the applause had subsidized. Mr.
Dunlop said ne was surprised at the
Inference Mr.. Clayton had taken from
his statement of the situation ana
was equally surprised at the feeilng
of the audience He said he thought all
American citizens stood for constltu-
tional rights.
Commissioner Kutz called the spec
tators to order after the third out
burst of applause at the statements
Of zone system opponents.
Jeremiah Connolly, representing tne
Legislative COMMITTEES OF the feuera
Employees Union, took the noor 10 eo
query the commission regarding the
scope of the hearing: After few gen
eral questions, he askeSi:
Has the question as to the manage
ment or mismanagemeut or the COIN
pany been gone into?
SpectatorS applauded at lensth
When Commissioner kMtz SUCCEEDED
in restoring order he asked the audi
ence to remember that the commission
was a semi judicial body. acting slhi-
lar to courts, and the innue nee OF aP
plause, which he said would not pc a /,
lowed TO SWAY the commission. should
be eliminated.
Regarding the question before the
commission, Commissioner h-utA eS
plained several times that To-Day
sarding the Interpretation of the pup
lie utilities law, following the 'motlon
Of Mr. Clayton questioning such au-
thority of the commissioners.
."The commission heretofore has mad
no doubt as to it's power to adjust
rates" declared Commissioner Kutz. at
still has no doubts. But 1t will, be giad
to receive any briefs bearing upon this
subject and to make them part or the
record"
Commissioner Kutz said also that
the question of bankruptcy of the com
many does not enter into the heariIts
but the general hearing is for the pu1'-
pose Of determining whether the conn
pany is receiving a fair return upon It's
investment, and as to what measures
of relief should be granted. in case 1t
was found that the fair return was not
being received. The methods of relief
also enter into the hearing. he declared.
The zone system being one of these
methods. it is expected to be included
in the hearings.
Prof G. A. Hill Of the Naval OBJ
servatory asked the commission:
'.Where Is your law to consider the
zone SYSTEM" He repeated the Ques-
ton upon failure of the commissioners
to reply, but was told that he would
be heard later upon any argument he
might wish to present upon this phase.
Lee r. Wilson, president of the
Brookland Citizens Association. mott
fled the commission that he reserved
the right to submit a brief upon the
legality of a zone system, and re-
Quested permission to make it part OF
the record.
Concluding preliminary statements
and entering into the direct hearing
Commissioner Kutz overruled Mr.
Claytons motion regarding the legal
ity of considering the zone system
and said he was Of the opinion that
it is within the commissions power
to consider the zone system of meas
ured service. He amended this state
! ment with the announcement that the
commission would examine briefs
questioning such legal rights. and il
they were found convincing, would
l