The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-01-15
The Public Badly WOrsted in
Utilities Matters
BY BILL PRICE

The chairman of the Public Utilities frankly
tells the House Committee that the public made
quaey represented by counsel in all public utilities matters
In the famous Potomac Electric Power case involving an
mpounded fund of over $6Oo0OOO people of the District
probably lost dollars refunds they
entitled of lack thorough legal and
preparation. 80.
The able special counsel the Public Utilities Commission
in that case paid funds raised by The Washington
Times and its colleague Herald in effort to protect
the interests of the public far possible These
papers subscribed 81 900 to the fund.
Congress despite appeals made to it. refused to
proprate for extra counsel The Potomac Electric
Power Company represented by large staff OF
But for the fund raised by Hearst papers Washington
the public would probably have gotten penny OF that
huge s. 5uaa large @ ~ stock Of the Wash
ngon Railway and Electric Company which owns the electric
lighting monopoly.
It begins to look as years persistent effort the part
The Times beginning bear fruit and that Congress will
provide peoples counsel paid well enough to give all his
time to fighting for the rights Of the public IN utilities
problems
# the members of the House Committee Appropriations
who refused to appropriate money for special counsel in
potant public utilities the court had been members
Of city in the cities they from they would never
deny their constituents adequate legal representa-
ton matters SO vitality affecting them If they had they
would have been disasrousy defeated at the polls. It
= @ n o.d Ies - acen n their district f
their actions here in the face of knowledge that the District
public utilities corporations are ably cared for by highly
remunerated counsel they will be able to satisfactorily
explain.
Not only is an independent Public Utilities Commission
needed in Washington entirely separate from the District
Commissioners, but the main needs
well paid counsel for the people who will be required
to give all his time to public utilities matters.
Ample appropriations for making Investigations that are
thorough and searching for checking reports of Public
Utilities preparing for counsel and the Commission
peoples counsel cannot delve into all angles Of utilities
questions unless he has cooperation in getting full facts and
figures The entire working force Of the Public Utilities
Commission paid money in five years than the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company paid out last
year prepare its fight before the commission against lower
telephone rates in the District.
The truth public utilities of the District
put the Public Utilities Commission every way
largely the commission is Handicapped by lack
funds adequate counsel and working personnel
The House Committee business it does
ascertain the accuracy Of the statements made here
will be shocked the in which District public
utilities spend Of thousands of dollars annually
of monies paid in by the public for safeguarding and
promoting their interests in matters before the u c.
the public gets from Congress appropria
tions insufficient to accomplish anything