Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-11
Mr.. Hartman and Public Utilities.


A good record, experience in the
specialized field of public regulation Of
privately owned public utilities and the
high Endorsement of men with whom
Commission, professionally and other
wise, apparently qualify Harleigh H.
Hartman, whom the President has nomi-
mated for the Public Utilities Commits
sion. to undertake the important service
to. this community which lies ahead of
him. The manner and success with
which he undertakes this service depend
upon him. Speculation on such points is
IDLE. But the extraordinary interest
shown by President Hoover In making
his choice of Mr.. Hartman the result
Of . highly selective process, involving
the consideration of many candidates,
speaks we'll of Mr.. Hartmans ability
and Is the source of qualification to
Washington.
Regulation Of the Districts expanding
public utilities, with the many questions
such regulation involves, is at the be-
ginning of q new chapter in Wash
inston. The still infant Public Utilities
Commission has lost its original per-
sonnet. During the short period of its
life the problems In the regulation Of
public utilities in growing community
have increased. Several of them, notably
the transportation merger and Car fares,
will soon present themselves for settle
ment In forms both new and old. A
public utilities body with two energetic
and informed civilian Commissioners
sitting with Col. Ladue is Of prime
importance TO the people of the Capital,
Mr.. HartmAn'S career has identified
him with neither the incorporation
nor the pro-e0rpOration view upon the
general question OF public regulatory
control of utilities. His own writings
upon and research into the question
attest the Independent thought Of .
student. This is as 1T should be. 1t
would be Is unWiSe to select for this
quasi judicial post one of pronounced
anti-corporation leanings as it would
BE- fatal to select one whose sympathies
and training had instilled into him the
philosophy of the corporations. The
Public Utilities Commission is, frst OF
all, body set up 20 protect the
interests Of the public. While these
interests are not best served by destroy
ing or discouraging private enterprise
and initiative, they are by no means
served by coddling the corporations.
while these interests demand protection
to the relatively few stockholders who
are entitled to q fair return upon the
money they have invested in the
corporations, they by no means extend
to making this protection overshadow
IN importance the rights Of the general
public, owning the streets used for
profit by the corporations. While these
interests demand an intelligent under
standing Of conflscatory rates, they de-
Raand even . better understanding Of
what constitute the lowest possible car
fares and the highest efficiency in
serving the public.
The corporation viewpoint, nuently
presented and skillfully defended, is too
apt to triumph over the less articulate
viewpoint Of the unorsanized public
The Public Utilities Commissioners sit
as judges, but as judges representing
the people before whom the corpora
tons come with their pleas; under
whom are the corporations who must
render service in return for privileges
granted.
Mr.. Hartman will take once the
exposure Of all eyes, and the best that
one may wish him is that he may be
able fully to grasp the splendid eppor-
tunities offered for public service.