The Washington times., 1924-02-07
Congress and Rights of People
OF Washington in Big Utility
Problems in the Courts
By BILL PRICE.


lection Of their rights in the big public utility pending
IN the District courts during the next fiscal year and in future
years?
Must the lone attorney Of the Public Utilities Commission
paid salary Of 1000 year, be compelled to combat th
big array Of local corporation attorneys ngehanded?
Whose interests being looked after Congress- in the
District Building in the courts in the satisfactory man
nose Of the people Of Washington those Of the oOr
porations7
Why are circumstances SO that the street railway copaues
gas companies electric light company and the telephone
company always represented by big staff able
pOaon lawyers paid large salaries while the equally Inn
pOtant interests Of ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT
are cared for by single attorney the stately" salary Of
1000 year?
Why the failure Of Congress give the Public Utilities
Commission funds to pay special attorneys to aid in the vlu
tOn and rate that In the coucases Of tremendous
Importance to every citizen Of the District?
Why do not the District Of Columbia estimates submitted to
Congress contain items for competent legal assstance7 Did
tho commissioners submit such items to the budget bureau
and so, did the bureau eliminate them?
Who responsible for the failure Of the appropriations
committees Of Senate and House have before them estimates
tCr special counsel in these involving 90 much to the
public Of Washington3
And II, for unexplained reason there IL no provision
n the estimates for full Legal aid to protect the public Why
not Congress take the matter In hand and make full
proviEon9
The District Appropriation bin for de next fiscal year
now being made up by subcommittee Of the House Commit
tee Appropriations composed Of OcngreDEmsn DAVIS Of
A4AuuSSOIdy
saChusetts AYREs Of Kansas and EA0AN Of New jersey
This subcommittee engaged in hearings on all kinds Of
District matters It ID sending for many people and will give
much time to the District Commissioners explain the many
items included in the local estimates.
These Congressman hail from States where the voice Of the
people amounts to something and where big and little corpora
n these S Know ws. % STe a sa 1o
OF corporations i It is voice that is raised above
whisper In the halls Of Congress and State legislatures its
sometimes national and local Legislators fa'' for the st
small voices and trim legislation that the corporations get
The Teapot Dome scandal Is clean and pure compared to
some OF the things that take place. the facts barred
they do reach the light Of day part Of them
The public is not doc that it doesn't understand and
keep on guard as far possible against the willy influences
exerted In behalf Of big interests and wealthy men,
We submit to the gentlemen have named that the public
utility corporations Of Washington closely allied with street
railway gas and electric light corporations all through the
United States do not want to special counsel any sort
fight their claims in the courts They will every direct
presentation OF the side Of the washington public in the
courts and before the Public Utilities Commission in the
counsel knows their Oomp1ete histories from beginning to to
end every phase Of the valuations fights before the p u O.
and who is fighter from top to bottom.
We submit to this House subcommittee that whether or
NOT the budget bureau has failed to pass upon the question
o. an aRPrSPTaon p tS @ for special counsel easily within the
deems necessary to protect the people Of the District
Possibly the members Of this subcommittee do not know
tba just Of the valuation and cases pending in the
local courts on appeal from the Public Utilities Commission
involves sum Of 5oOoooO which the p o. G. holds belongs
70 the electric Light users Of the District but which the
Potomac Electric Light Company seeking to gobbe mn az
its own. e W ~
The other cases equally important because they involve
e question Of excessive valuations Of local utilities the in
cuSon OF millions Of dollars Of water upon which the pub
lie Is expected to pay juicy returns
We ask the men whose mention whether it s fair
that the vast interests Of the Washington public shall be denied
the most thorough legal representation while the corporations
spare no legal expense and uniformly maintain The same
counsel who started with these nine years aRoP
We submit to the District Commissioners who also conpose
the Public Utilities Commission that il mot too late to mare
determined fight in Congress for the rights of Washington
people We hope to their efforts In this direction recorded
In black and white
Nobody fool enough to understand that whatever the
local corporations think to their best interest they are
presenting in their way In Congress- open hearings
either Let Us get little Of the rights Of Waangton carr
riders gas electric Light and telephone before Congress
Mr.. Thompson Buys a Halo
Earth Turns and Improves