The Washington times., 1926-02-02
New Utilities Commission and
Peoples Counsel
Nv RHL, PRICE

BY BILL PRICE
in the House District Committee reported be
t;rv distinct from the District Commissioners and
with it peoples counsel who will devote ms entire time 20
The Touss hearing have confirmed and emphasized
nosion1 long taken By this the District Com
benp ssd eds with public utilities work IS humanity
possible for them to give the proper time e both POSITIONS
compelled to leave important work TO subordnate Of
whom there scarcity and the result Is that public utilities
here able y u sny
Of money they want to- have an easy thing.
This situation contrary to the fundamental basis Of
public utilities Commission as to call for thorough renovation
by Congress- large city like Washington there
anty arising weigh utilities problems with important IN
disposed problems Of the past pending in the courts TO be
kept IN touch with.
have the situation Of Commission which sits ct
intervals instead Of almost daily and counsel whose chief
duties are those of Corporation Counsel Of the District
Il IS perfectly plain that the interests Of the public suffer
and sffer seriously these conditions The public
utilities corporations highly pleased that there active
Public Utilities Commission TO keep in constant and protective
touch with various phases Of questions The corporations go
d the commission when they want to- when Is to their
interest to do so When they do ask for hearings they
thoroughly prepared present their side Of matters They
have able stats attorneys and well paid experts and
= Is SO far as the public is CONCERNED The lone
counsel Of the commission head heels il other work.
does the best be The working personnel Of the Utilities
missior i shaefuy limited 50 limited ii size that it
aev able to hit the high spots utilities questions
appropriations for the commission are Just Is restricted
There money to make special and thorough examinations
upo which the corporation may ask for increased charges
from the public the commission do little with the force
# has but scratch surface Of the claims that put
It Is positively accumulate the facts and data upon
which to make serious contention
The Washington Gas Light Company for example is be-
ginning revauaton Of its properties It's object plainly
that Of showing that its properties worth much than
the valuation heretofore set by the commission Il viii
mare its case viii spend freely Of money paid In BY
the public If subsantiatng It's claims it win
undoubtedly ask for higher gas charges from District citizens
TO nav reasonable returns" increased valuations
The duty of the Public Utilities Commission 70 carefully
investigate every and claim made by the Gas Light Com
pany public may not have pay returns
thing except honest values Our Utilities Commission ism
going able it The Commission part Of the
way It hasn't the money to cover the ground thor
oughly.
Then the Commission refuses to accept the valuation
before it. the Gas Light company VIII e the
courts all District corporations have been doing When
called for hearing the Commission viii De IN poor
shape for legal combat The corporation has the best Of i IN
every way It's attorneys numerous The Commission
he was unable to his full duty There money to en-
pIoy special counsel experts.
been the lamentable unfair situation here right
along picnic for the corporations rout for the
public so onesided be percepble to anybody to
everybody probably has parallel elsewhere In this
country because the public elsewhere given protection
even If part Of it is pure bunk.
Besides separate Public Utilities Commission need
strong wepaid peoples counsel and appropriations that will
enable the Commission get all the facts It wants for
use the anywhere else We need Utilities Com
mission that will sit most of the time and be ON THE JOB
ALL THE TIME.