Evening star., 1924-01-12
COUNSEL
FOR CAPITAL ASKED
ZihIman Proposes Additional
Attorney for Utilities Body
to Represent Citizens.

Providing for the appointment of
an additional counsel for the Public
Utilities Commission, to be known
as 1.-The peoples COUNSEL a bill was
introduced in the House today by
Representative Fred n. Zihlman of
Maryland, which was referred to the
House District committee.
The Zihlman bill would add a new
section TO the organization act of the
would provide for appointment by
the President and confirmation by the
Senate of such a peoples counsel"
TO hold Office for a term Of four years,
unless removed for reasons specified
in the bill.
1t is specifically provided that no
person shall be appointed to this Of
fee unless he has been a continuous
bona fide resident of the District for
at least five years Immediately pre-
ceding his appointment and shall be
engaged in the actual practice of
law for a period of at least five years.
The peoples counsel would receive
an annual salary of $4,000, payable
in equal monthly installments, ac-
cording to the Zihlman bill. The du-
ties Of such peoples counsel would
be to represent and appear for the
people Of the District at all hearings
of the Public Utilities Commission
and to represent petitioners appear
ing in the interest Of lower rates and
improved public service.
He would also represent the in
ttrest Of the consumers and users of
public utilities in the District in the
,A--s HAF l.
Supreme Court of the United States.
To Appear i'm All Cases.
He would also be granted the
right to appear in civil, quasi-criminal
atty, forfeiture or fine growing out
Of violations OF the public utilities
act and for the recovery of money
impounded or held in escrow or in
trust under the provisions of the
public utilities law.
The peoples counsel would also
be authorized and empowered to make
Investigations of the service of pub
lie utilities. the physical valuation OF
their properties and the rates
charged for public service in the
District.
In explaining the condition which
prompted him to father this legis-
lation, Representative Zihlman point
ed out that in the act of March 4,
1913, creating the Public Utilities
Commission, it is provided that the
commission may at any time it
deems necessary employ other at
general counsel for extraordinary
legal service and that they shall be
compensated out of the sums ap-
proprtated for the expenses of the
commission
Unfortunately for the District"
Representative Zihlman said, ''the
amount allowed for the expenses of
the Public Utilities Commission have
been pitifully small The recon-
mendatton carried in the pending
budget for incidental and all other
general necessary expenses is only
$4,000. Therefore, the Commissioners
are prevented by lack of funds from
employing the necessary extra coun-
sci to represent them in the case now
pending, which involves more than
$5,000,000 in excess rates paid by con-
sumers of electricity in the District
and now held in trust awaiting the
decision of the court.
Will Protect Citizens.
"By the appointment of peoples q
counsel Representative Zihlman
argues. Hearings of this nature and
other extra services would be taken
care of: the interests of the citizens
would be protected before formal
hearings and the peoples counsel
would be given authority to make in
vestigations of the fiscal valuation
and earnings of public utilities in the
District and institute proceedings for
reduction of rates.
'Tt must be apparent to any one ia
miliar with the affairs of the District
that the great volume of work which
falls upon the shoulders Of the three
Commissioners, the corporation coun-
sci and his assistants makes it prac-
tically impossible for them to give
such time as is necessary for the in
yestigation and consideration of the
great problems arising out of public
utilities here.
sUnder the provisions of this bill
the citizens would have a counsel, to
give his time to this work. and he
would be held responsible for the ini-
tiation and proper presentation OF
cases involving rates end ssTTtceA"