The Washington herald., 1920-11-26

AFTER SCALP OF
DC. UTILITIES
To Demand Congress Probe
Of Rates and Commis-
sion S Interest.
DATA BEING GATHERED
Democratic Representative
Says Public Should Not
Pay Salaries.
DATA BEING GATHERED

RepEtscutdtiNe Siduue hltCnius OF
North Carolina. ranking minority
member of the Ways and Means
Committee. and who is scheduled
for Democratic floor leader in the
next Congress, Is gathering data
for war on public utilities in the
District of Columbia, and intenas
to force Congressional investiga-
ton into the personal connection
of Public Utilities Commissioners,
past and present, with District util-
ity corporation, it was learned We'd
nesday.
Kitchin, IL is understood, became
incensed when an announcement
was made recently that the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany intended to ask for a further
increase in car-fare rates, and de-
termined to make a personal inves-
tigation. He has gathered a monu-
mental pile of material, and Is add
ing to it each day.
A member of the House District
Committee will be asked to intro
duce bill providing for a Congres-
sional investigation with view
to forcing utility rates back to a.
reasonable basis. When the meas
ure reaches the floor, Kitchin said,
he will hiring all the data he has
collected to bear on the question
and support the bill with all his
power.
"Serve Corporate Interests.-
In a denunciation of the Public
Utilities Commissioners. although no
names were mentioned, Kitchin de-
clared the government should no
longer pay their salaries, but that
they should draw their stipend from
the corporate interests, whom they
serve"
They have no concern at all for
the people of the District" said
Kitchin. "All rates on public util-
tiles have been. increased and every
request for an increase has been
granted by these Commissioners.
The only reason rates are not higher
than they are is because the corpo-
rations have not asked for them.
Il am in favor of investigating
the qualifications of every Commits
sioner who served during the past
three years, since the first increase
was granted, with Il view to ascer-
tanning how much stock these Com
missioners hold in public utility
corporations; TO whom they trans
ferred it when accepting municipal
positions. and what banks in the
city holding stocks and bonds in
public utilities, have loaned money
TO the Commit ioners,f or placed
them under obligations otherwise.
III there is no other way to cir
cumvent the activities Of these
Commissioners, I am in favor of re-
stricting appropriations so they can
not collect their salaries.
Gas Rates scored
Gas bills have increased 100 per
cent in the last few years, the
charge having been doubled whether
the rates were increased that much
or not.
IF other cities can make money
on 81 gas and 5 cent car-fare there
is no reason why it can not be done
here.
These people (Utility Commits
sioners), appointed to serve the peo-
pie of the District serve the cor
porate interests instead, permitting
these interests to rob and fleece the
people.
selves might just as well be ap-
for all the protection the poor peo-
pie of the city get under the present
system"
Discussing the street railway
problem. Kitchin expressed himself
in favor of reduced fare for school
children at not more than six
tickets for a quarter.
IF one company can make money,
that is sufficient evidence that an
other, with good management, could
do the same. 1t is not for the peo-
pie to pay for bad management and
higher salaries.
IF the same principle held good
that a company making money
should have it's rates raised to help
a company that was not, then the
more substantial company could
start a road which it knew would
not pay on an ordinary basis and
force rates high enough to make
it pay"