The Washington times., 1925-12-02
Lining Up for an Independent
Utilities Commission
Rv BILL PRICE


The Capitalization Of public sentiment behalf Of Public
Utilities Commission independent Of the District Co1nls-
soners indicates that utilities problems are tnay peng
recognized among the most important OF all District atrs
When the Public Utilities Commission was created by Con-
ess Washington making the enormous strloes 70
greater population standing among world cities 1t Is now
making We not then faced with the drastic changes
brought about the widespread use OF the 0"
complicatng transportation service by street cars
Commissioners not then burdened with the
increasingly omentous municipal problems that face
them It possible for the Commissioners to take up ut
ties work as members of the Utilities Commission though tne
duties then too much for three overWoreo men
It certain that the time when should have
Public Utilities Commission doing nothing else but considering
public utilities uuestions also that the District
should apply themselves exclusively municipal subjects The
future of Washington the nearest thing TO all OF US
are largely responsible that future They have enough to
do when they confne themselves to strictly uncpal que
ticns
There are mighty things arising that would bring
fct between the Commissioners body and Public
Utilities Commission another The problems are separate
and distinct except in few possible instances ana tnese
The proposal that the Public Utilities Commission shall
main and that additional members be added stu
keeus the District Commissioners tied up with utilities ques
tons their time away from municipal work not
Jesse q SUFFER- president of the Federation of Citizens
Associations member of the Citizens Advisory Council
represents public sentiment in advocating Utilities % OGm
associations of the District stand for The ADVISORY Oounc
shows good sense in favorng the plan
One should be an army engineer Of rank familiar with
eineer problems The other two should be citizens OF the
Dct-sensible unbiased with good Judgment Their
salaries should be the paid the District
annually They may be appointed by the PRESIDENT
the Commissioners Better STILL they should be elected Dy
the people Of the District.
Of greater Importance than the personnel Of the Co
Eon peoples counsel to handle the legal problems arising
His salary should be $4,000 year and the law creating the
Commission should require his undivided services Further
more the law should specify that he to represent TIE
PEOPLE because the public utilities corporations Will take
good of themselves in the matter OF counsel
No bill should pass Congress that does not aim at ample
funds the Public Utilities Commission to employ expert ac
and others make searching Investigations when
utilities hearings held by the Commission at the request OF
local utilities or by the Commissions own act
It has been frequently pointed out in this newspaper that the
Public Utilities Commission absolutely prevented from
properly funconng by lack Of appropriations to employ &C
countants and experts Utilities corporations are well pro-
vjded with all the money they need They spend freely en-
ploy freely and charge the expense against gross
revenues paid in by the public The Utilities Commission Is
Virtually forced to accept accurate Whatever
given it by local corporations. hasn't the money 70 IN
vestgate on its account except the most superficial
way. =,
right Some Of the most modern laws on public
service commissions require utilities to put at the disposal OF
commissions funds for to
make investigations of their and check reports ana
statements made to them The object of that plain IL
give the public which supplies the funds that make
corporations prosperous equal cnance 10 knO" d." 0 "
and to reveal the truth
The situation one-sided be shocking In It's
nairness corporations spend whatever money they
please making statements and presenting information TO
the Utilities Commission favorable to themselves They
titled to do that the public should have the right to
make satisfactory checkup The funds to make such
checup should available either from the corporations or
through appropriations by Congress.