The Washington times., 1922-09-23
Secretary of
the p. u. &.
BY BILL PRICE.

"a among citizens associations OF
- the District and among many
citizens that the secretary to the
Public Utilities Commission is utter
ly lacking in proper consideration
Of requests, petitions, ETC., on pub
lie utility problems, presented to
him, verbally or by letter, by Dis
trict people.
Recent incidents may cause the
members of the P. U. G. to take a
little time to investigate to de-
termine whether this impression is
or is not an erroneous one. The
public utility corporations of the
District have apparently never had
cause to complain of the excellent
treatment they have had from the
secretary of this commission or the
fact would have become known a
long time ago.
1t would seem but fair to those
who have complained of Indifferent
handling of their requests, and to
the secretary of the Commission
himself, that the Commission, at
its first opportunity, make careful
investigation to find out whether
the public is really being served
as it should be or whether it is
merely grumbling without cause.
1t will not be difficult for the
Commission to obtain from leaders
of citizens associations and indi-
vidual citizens facts and impress
sions as to whether they have
been shown courteous considera-
ton in complaints and requests
submitted by them. If the investi-
cations should reveal an accumu-
lation of incidents indicating indif-
ference and cold unconcern to com
plants regarding service and to
petitions rightfully submitted, the
Commission could ascertain from
the secretary his explanation of his
own attitude.
1t is easy to find out if the pub
lie feels that in the administration
of public utility affairs it is not
put on the same footing with the
utility corporations and that there
is bias and prejudice favorable to
the corporations. The Public
Utility Commission does not wish
to lose the confidence of the Wash
ington public through the alleged
unsympathetic attitude of one of
its officials, but the responsibility
of affairs rests with the Commis-
sion, the members Of which, despite
the official burdens that rest upon
them as District Commissioners, are
supposed to be fully advised of
what is going on.
For the last two or three months
the District Commissioners have
been deeply engrossed in the prep
aration of estimates of appropria-
tions for submission to the director
OF the budget and Congress. That
has been enough work for three
men. Hundreds of other municipal
problems have arisen to receive
executive approval or disapproval.
To administer the municipal affairs
of great city like Washington re-
quires all the attention of the
Commissioners.
Yet, by law, these same men con-
stitute the Public Utilities Commits
sion. 1t is absolutely impossible for
them to personally handle, or even
supervise, the details of the work Of
the P. U. c., and this is necessarily
left to subordinates. 1t is important
that subordinates should work in
harmony with the Commission and
attempt to satisfactorily and fairly
settle many questions affecting the
interests and welfare of the public
and the corporations.
This newspaper has for years
urged the creation by Congress of
Public Utilities Commission
separate and distinct from the Dis
trict Commissioners, composed of
men well advised on utility sub
jects, willing and anxious to give
attentive ear to citizens and cor
pOrations. Members of separate
y II n cbnnl5 not faal +bo+ +Lo,,