Evening star., 1921-10-21
Public Utilities Jurisdiction.

.
next Monday on an application by the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company that that body take jurisdic-
ton oyer the question Of the deprecia.
ton allowances to be made in the FIX
ing Of fares. The company claims that
inasmuch as it is engaged in inter-
state business it comes within the
jurisdiction Of the federal commission
on this question rather than the Dis.
trict Public Utilities Commission.
The first measure Of public utility
regs elton affecting the District Of Co
lumbia took the form Of a law which
placed the local public service corpora
tions under the Interstate Commerce
Commission. That body, burdened
with the business Of regulating tho
railroads Of the country. did not care
for this charge. but undertook 1t as
well as its facilities permitted. Later,
by act Of Congress, the local utilities
commission was created and given full
jurisdiction over all local public serv-
ice corporations, with power Of ap-
praisal Of property, which naturally
includes appraisal Of depreciations,
and Of rate-fixing. Two years ago Con-
gress enlarged the jurisdiction Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. CIV
mig that body power to fix rates on
interstate traction lines, a power
which naturally includes the right to
determine valuations. which in turn
includes depreciations. 1t is under
that act that the Washington Railway
and Electric Company now seeks a
transfer Of jurisdiction on the depre-
ciation point from the Public Utilities
Commission.
The question at issue is whether the
Interstate Commerce Commission, in
taking over the interstate jurisdiction,
can supersede the local commission.
which is specifically granted the power
Of rate-fixing for the District Of Co
lumbia. In q recent case, that Of the
Washington Virginia railway, the In
terstate Commerce Commission did &C.
[cept and exercise jurisdiction, but only
as to rates through to points in Vir.
einia. Similarly it might assume juris-
diction over any other line running
into Maryland, but perhaps solely to
the end Of fixing interstate rates.
The question Of chief importance in
this matter is whether in exercising
this interstate jurisdiction-if the fed.
eral commission accepts it in the pres.
ent instance-the Interstate Commerce
Commission will consider valuation
questions. including depreciation. in
dependently Of the local commission.
It would be manifestly confusing to
have two bases Of fare-dxing, that Of
the utilities commission and that Of
the federal body. In the Washington
Virginia case the local fare to the Dis.
trict boundary established by the utili-
ties commission was accepted by the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
reckoned as part of the through rate.
Practically all Of the local public
utilities, traction. telephone. gas and
electric light, do an interstate business
in that services extend beyond the Dis.
trict boundaries. So that II, the Inter.
state Commerce Commission accepts
jurisdiction on the score of Washing
ton Railway and Electric depreciations
it may take jurisdiction over the whole
range of local public utilities, leaving
the local commission stripped Of its
powers despite the specific act Of Con.
gress creating it and giving it control
Of these corporations. Thus 1t is to be
seen that the application Of the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
that is to be discussed Monday in.
wolves considerations Of the highest
importance.