Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-26
The Peoples Counsel.

In his letter addressed to the peoples
counsel regarding the pending hearings
on the application Of the Capital Trac-
ton Co. for an increase Of fares, Sena-
tor Capper has expressed the view held
by the community as to the function of
that Official in connection with public
utilities matters. Doubtless that is like
wise the view held by the counsel rs
well, Senator Capper himself, indeed,
declaring that he has so informed ques-
TONERS who have manifested anxiety
on this score.
The ONCE of peoples counsel was
created by act Of Congress to insure
that the interests of the users of the
utilities service in Washington should
be ssfeguarded through adequate legal
representation before the commission.
While the text of the act creating the
Office designates it as an additional
counsel of the commission, 1t was spe-
officially the intention of the commit
tees OF Congress and the full expecta-
ton Of the community that the oficial
should serve as the representative Of
the public and not merely the legal ad-
wiser of the commission.
The creation of this office came about
through the development of an anoma-
lous situation When the District Com
missioners themselves acted as a pub
lie utilities commission they were aided
on legal matters by the corporation
counsel. Whenever issues arose as TO
utilities rates and service the interests
Of the car riders and the gas and cleo
trio current users were represented by
volunteer counsel, whose compensation.
il any was given, was precarious and
uncertain. This condition led to a de-
mand that the people should be repre-
sented before the commission by legal
agent charged with the duty Of safe
guarding the equities of the consumers.
In the act creating the separate utili-
ties commission this office was provided
for. and Senator Capper's construction
of the statute is in direct accord with
the general understanding.
In every. case before the Utilities
Commission there Is conflict Of in
terests. The corporations want some
thing that the public does not want, or
the public wants something that the
corporations do not want. 1t is the
commissions task to determine the
equities and to render decision accord
ingly. It is the peoples counsel's duty
to resist the applications Of the corpora
tons to which public exceptions are
taken, and to press the applications Of
the consumers and users Of the utilities
to which the corporations object.
In this present instance, OF the APP
plication for a fare-rate increase, the
peoples counsel's task Is to assure that
the commission is fully enlightened on
the facts and especially as to the re-
lation which this application bears to
the pending merger plan, which, de-
spite the implied demurrer OF the APP
plying company, remains pending before
Congress, Notwithstanding failure to act
at the session Just closed 1t is especially
important that no action be taken by
the commission, In passing upon this
present request for higher fare rate,
that win prejudice the public's position
with reference TO the merger OF the
rapid transit lines In the treatment OF
this case the peoples counsel Is relied
upon by the community to assure II
the fullest and most effective repre-
seutation possible.