The Washington times., 1923-03-19
Subterranean Trickeries to
Prevent Special Counsel in
Utilities Cases
By BILL PRICE.


airy procedure in referring to its regular utilities committee
the matter of raising $4,000 necessary retain Conrad
Eye special counsel in the momentous utilities valuation
and pending in the courts involving millions Of
and the question higher fares and electric light
rates in this city.
The Times and The Herald offered subscribe ST. 900
Of the $4,000 which Colonel Keller chairman of the
Public Utilities Commission asked the citizens of Washing
ton to raise that their interests may be thoroughly
safeguarded in the courts Columbia Typographical Union
has promptly added 5000 to the $1,000 leaving only $1,000
to be considered.
As the watchdog of the civic rights of Washington citizens
the of Citizens Associations not do otherwise
take whatever action necessary to that the i'm
octsd from sver standpO those who feel that public
subscriptions should be called for immediately while the
public is aroused viii not criticize action Of the fedora
on in going the matter in deliberate and due form
The win doubtless end most satisfactory manner
The fund Of 5000 be raised quickly and the
Federation the organization to take charge Of the
matter
Colonel Keller appealed the public to subscribe the
funds to continue the services Of special counsel in aiding
Corporation Counsel STEPHENS able lawyer who,
counsel Of the Public Utilities Commission directing and
leading the legal fight Of the commission There be
question Of the good faith Of the chairman Of the commission
It is imperative Stephens should have the best
it possible to have for the simple
that would be utterly unfair to the vast interests Of the
Washington public that should single handed be
compelled the imposing array of legal counsel the
public utility corporations viii have representing them in
these valuation cases.
Corporations often work in OBVIOUSLY secretive ways
oppose and thwart public opposition and public will It is
but natural the corporations whose powerful in
work prevent Congress approprag
the necessary funds for special counsel would prefer not
Mr.. Syme any special counsel in these He
caused them many days and years Of worry by his determined
and courageous attitude in the valuation which ended
in the Public Utilities Commission wrngng millions of dollars
Of water" from their capital stocks
The Washington public may therefore look for some
see that street car fares are not increased or electric light
rates soaring which will be the inevitable consequence
p g. g. labeled water will become solid substance on
which the cridng public and of electricity must
dearly
The corporation underground mole going busy for
awhile It's subterranean processes will be watched with
considerable concern will pay the alert Washngonian
to keep his eyes wide open and his ears to the ground he
sincerely desires guard his rights He will and hear
HOLMES
Every pretends speak average citizen
association what he makes noise like. he
may privately the of big The citizens
associations Of Washington nimca square deal
FOR THE PEOPLE who have no highly paid counsel repre-
sentng them Not who talks in citizens body
citizens of washington keep watchul vigil these days
Don't be swept off feet by the currents which
already get vision of if you investigate carefully
sion that its decisions in the valuation followed
and upheld by able counse-not one single attorney
through the courts Because the local
just appropriation in Congress is why every
possible step should not be taken to protect public
by the employment through public subscription of the abest
lawyer lawyers to assist the lone counsel Of the
In contrast to two three hundred times that eminent
counsel for the corporations.
Colonel Keller deserves credit for realising the huge i'm
portance Of this matter to the Washington public and in
making appeal to the public to do what Congress refused
to do The people back of him and going
fooled by Of the underground manpuations that are
already apparent to who has had experience with
corporation burrowing.
There only thing before Washington public and
not be becouded by delay, evasion
ding and backfiring. It is:
ARE PUBLIC INTERESTS TO BE FULLY PROTECTED?
what the Public Utilities Commission has declared to be
water in the capital Of certain local utilities found bv
the be real value the people Washington must
pay least 10 fare and 10 cents per
Hlowatt hour for electricity.
The 100000 in the impounded electric light fund
which the u G. belongs to the people of Washington
and which must be returned by the Potomac
Light Company the latter its case in the courts
be lost to the public the p u c. fails give it's
counsel all the assistance he able ATTORNEYS