The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-08-05
Some Work Ahead tor the
Public Utilities Commission
By BILL PRICE.


now that the District Commissioners have about completed
their panstang duties 81 submitting estimates Of District
needs for the fiscal year the Budget Bureau they WILL
a members Of the Public Utilities UommibaOn take up some
o. the utilities problems Of the CITY and attempt TO work
them out
The happiness 81 Two important municipal bodies being
made up Of the same personnel well illustrated a tAe faCt
that the Public Utilities Commission has been unable ID
actively function while che District Commissioners dis
posing Of matters regarded BY them IS C greater moment
than utilities questions.
In city the size 81 Washington Public Utilities Commission
should b active and alert a times unhampered ~ other
work that causes postponement Of It's duties The clerical
expert work Of the Commission doubtless being attended
% ii routine fashion, but with the members Of the Commit
hon tied up Ii other ways there is not the initiative which
properly belongs executive Vffcials there not the close
supervision which executive heada should give TO matters
intimately connected with the daily Lives cf the people 81
This city.
The Commissioners themselves have recommended to Con-
res he separation Of the two bodies and the creation Of
Public Utilities Commission with personnel q is own and
he time to keep IA intimate contact with public utility con-
psrns which serve the public
The Utilities Commission b soon % begin hearings on the
application 81 the Washington Rapid Transit Company FOR the
tight 20 charge l0Cent straight fare On IFS buses The com
Fany would not have gone the commission 81 al had
bcsn making The money would like to make = q not the
6t d corporations that getting the best Of the public 70
voluntarily ask that they he torn from their plumber
In this city occasion the Chesapeake and Potomac
b position to lower It's rates ana asked to do So It may
nsver do again In faO the CizenB associations Of Wash
ngton contend that the company are entirely too high
now and should be reduced IN the light Of the large net
The point i that the Public Utilities Consson should be-
20 made up that It's members Will at all times know ell about
the inside affairs Of public utility corporations and be IN posi-
tOn 70 take steps 70 reduce rates when they It
sAxy. Il the membership Of the commission overloaded with
The bus line hearing Win develop the financial condition Of
that company and enable decision Is to whether IL h able to
AT ~ ~ ~ ~ q 49,
bus line i really necessity IN Washington and it, affairs
economically managed without fat being charged to
overhead that going into the pockets Of promoters and
favored stockholders who given unnecessary managerial or
honorary positions it should be allowed sufcient fare 10
pay reasonable return on honestly invested capital
The public is often plnndered and mysfied through
manipulatons Of public utilities accounts that up TO the
experts Of the Utilities Commission to find what the Washing
ton Rapid Transit Company has actually put into s business
in dollars and cents and in promotion charges heavy
salaries TO officials who doing little nothing to
II is for the benefit Of Washington that all means Of public
transportation be encouraged the rates fair to the
public This is particularly true the transportation il
portions Of the city where there is tremendous congestion
street railway lines and riders jammed like sarns
On the face Of things however, an scent fare seems su
cient no matter what the method Of transportation An
for the street car companies to start howl fcr Increased
xares when as matter Of cold fact the fares should be
ower than they are Il view Of the prosperous conditions Of
bus line company without the expense Of building car
ack ana without having as the companies do the ex
pese maintaining the repairs Of between and along
side Of tracks ought to be able to make money an Scent
rare and compelled TO worry along that" win prob
ably manage its business that t make money on that
fare. = \"
What The Public Utilities Commission should do without
ss OF time TO take up the electric Light rate In this city
Tor such downward revision affairs Of the Potomac
Electric Light Company warrants The financial statements
& constant increase IN its MET EARNINS 49, 'ns''
That company has managed thwart the decisions Of the
Commission for lower electric light rates through appeals
kha huAt ha III via ~
It's duty matter what the legal There is moi the
slightest doubt that the Potomac Electric Light Company
Is earning far than reasonable return on valuation
even its own estimate iof what its value is
This ccpanys excessive net revenues go to the Wash
ngton Railway and Electric Company in the form Of large
dividends The latter company these dividends to
tne payments Of juicy dividends the stock Of the
In other words the electric light consumers 81
Washington paying dividends street railway stock
which would not be entitled TO these dividends from the rail-
way copany's earnings and rghul basis Of valuation