The Washington times., 1924-01-12
A Peoples Counsel for the
Public Utilities Commission
By BILL PRICE.

Congressman z1HLMAN and other members of the House
Committee the District of Columbia their purpose
to Congress for the passage legislation providing
for peoples counsel for the Public Utilities Commission at
salary of sufficient size high grade lawyer who
will give all of his time the duties of legal adviser to the
Commission and advocate of the people all public utilities
questions.
Their view of this matter has reached after reading
editorials in this newspaper concerning the employment OF
special counsel for the Commission in the important valuation
pending in the courts likewise from the knowledge
gained editorials that the regular counsel for the
Commission paid only $1,000 year salary contrasted
with expensive legal sas maintained by local public
utilities their interests before the p U. c.
To these congressman and to the citizens of Washington
generally direct attention the fact that the Federation
Citizens Associations through chairman of its public
utilities committee W. NICK Clayton has filed brief before
the Public Utilities Commission requesting reduction in the
telephone in this city, because the telephone
is earning in of 10 cent investment as measured
by the valuation of the company's properties.
It is asserted by Mr. Clayton who is thoroughly posted on
these subjects that only is the company receiving more
than per that 1923 set aside $762S43
for depreciation In the absence OF standard de-
probation regulations it has become custom for Washington
public utilities charge off large OF money to deprecia
ton that their returns investment may appear as small as
possible
Attention of these congressman others called
the interesting that than the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company making much money
it voluntarily before the u G. and ASKED that the
monthly charges to telephone subscribers be reduced
the instance the company requested that reduction
be made in the second instance the citizens Of Washington
through citizen who does valuable work for the community
without cent of pay ask for further reduction because
it claimed the company is making exorban returns
The point here is Ought official connected with
the Public Utilities Commission know when local utility is
making earnings from charges to the pubic ana take
the initiative in having the matter brought before the P u C
of Citizens Associations who did not have time
inclination take the initiative preferred to favor some
corporation and take action at all how long would cor
poraon continue to enjoy huge benefits at the expense OF
should be known in Congress that the Public Utilities
Commission composed of the three Commissioners Of the
District could and should give every minute of
their time municipal affairs They not devote the
required attention their duties members OF the Public
Utilities Commission.
The counsel Of the P u c. is likewise the corporation
counsel of the District of Columbia His hands full OF
work of legal associated with the municipality of
Washington As counsel for the P u c. he is paid the In
significant of $1,000 year
Here who literally swamped with work alto
gether foreign to regulation of local utilities.
The secretary of the P u c. evidently paid to do ecre
tar work alone and to the requests and complaints
that go into his office.
Who is there to start proceedings Commission
for lowering of charges the public for telephone or
gas? perfectly obvious that any of the local
corporations earning what they think they should
their counsel will promptly ask for higher charges or
rates These counsel are paid from collected
public Their fees salaries high, amounting to many
thousands of dollars annually
right that the public should pay for these counsel for
the corporations and have counsel Of their
TO protect their interests to watch over the operation OF the
local public utilities and act when action is necessary?
BY all means Lnere snoulo De people COUNSEL ddcneu
to the p u c. paid proportionately well counsel
of the corporations By all there should be separate
and distinct Public Utilities Commission, composed of
who will do other work
There are just classes vaIy concerned in public
utties-frst THE PUBLIC second the stockholders and
bondhods of the corporations Motomen and conductors
generally for these corporations
deeply concerned but the final analysis the conduct
of public utilities is of deepest moment to all the people Of
this city.
We again submit that the corporations look after their
interests the effective and at the cost of the
public there safeguard the interests of Washington
people to be on duty at watchfu right
thing is done?
Is Congress people Of Washington does want
local utilities to have decided advantages and privileges?
Let PaDini Come